RIP Bob Contant

Bob Contant, a founder of the countercultural St. Mark’s Bookshop in the East Village, who prided himself on stocking titles that were not “too popular” and stayed in business for four decades, died on Nov. 6 at his home in Manhattan. He was 80. https://t.co/uFpbf6K1GR

— NYT Metro (@NYTMetro) November 22, 2023

Bob Contant, co-founder and co-owner of St. Mark's Bookshop, died at his Manhattan home on Nov. 6. Per published reports, he died of cardiac arrest. He was 80. 

According to Shelf Awareness, Contant was born in Rochester, N.Y., and grew up in suburban Washington, D.C. After college, he worked at the Washington Public Library and, after a move to Cambridge, Mass., at two of Harvard's libraries and then at several Harvard Square bookstores.

He came to New York in 1972 and was manager of the old 8th Street Bookshop in Greenwich Village. In 1977, Contant, along with others working at East Side Books — Terry McCoy, Peter Dargis, and Tom Evans — decided to open their own store at 13 St. Mark's Place. St. Mark's Bookshop moved to a larger location, at 12 St. Mark's Place, in 1987 and then in 1993 to a new development by Cooper Union at 31 Third Avenue. 

The store built on its strength in poetry, critical studies, small press literature, and art. But after many years, with a change of board, the school shifted its approach to the bookstore and offered no help when, in the wake of the financial crisis, St. Mark's had trouble paying its $20,000-a-month rent. 

After 38 years at four locations, St. Mark's Bookshop eventually closed for good on Feb. 28, 2016, at a smaller space on 136 E. Third St. between Avenue A and First Avenue.

Adena Siegel, a retired sales representative at Yale University Press, Harvard U Press and MIT Press,  remembered Contant as "a passionate bookseller, principled, enthusiastic, so knowledgeable," per Shelf Awareness.

Karma Books now open on 3rd Street

Karma Books, an offshoot of the Karma gallery on Second Street, opened this week at 136 E. Third St. between Avenue A and First Avenue ... in the former home of St. Mark's Bookshop.

An EVG reader who took a quick look inside the store reports an art-focused selection, with some big coffee-table books on contemporary art as well as rare and special editions.

Here's a selection of their titles, as seen on Instagram ...

A post shared by Karma (@karmabooks9) on Apr 6, 2018 at 7:07pm PDT

A post shared by Karma (@karmabooks9) on Apr 7, 2018 at 9:19am PDT

A post shared by Karma (@karmabooks9) on Apr 6, 2018 at 7:06pm PDT

A post shared by Karma (@karmabooks9) on Apr 6, 2018 at 6:48pm PDT

Previously on EV Grieve:
Bookstore coming to the former St. Mark's Bookshop on 3rd Street

Bookstore coming to the former St. Mark's Bookshop on 3rd Street

Work continues at 136 E. Third St. between Avenue A and First Avenue... an EVG reader who lives nearby reports that workers removed the paper covering the front windows on Monday... revealing the makings of a bookstore...



A worker at the scene confirmed this. So the next item of business will be to find out who the new tenant is, and what kind of books the shop will carry.

After 38 years at four locations, St. Mark's Bookshop closed here on Third Street in February 2016. Among other things, the long-struggling store reportedly owned some $70,000 in back rent to the NYCHA.

This incoming shop will be the second bookstore to open in the neighborhood since the New Year, joining Codex on the Bowery and Bleecker.

Updated 7 a.m.

The first commenter included a link to a DOB document ... showing that the tenant is Karma, the gallery-bookseller that currently has space on Second Street between Avenue A and Avenue B. This space will likely be for their art book/publishing arm.

H/T Katie Mac!

St. Mark's Bookshop closed 1 year ago today

[Photos from yesterday]

After 38 years at four locations, St. Mark's Bookshop closed for good on Feb. 28, 2016, at 136 E. Third St. between Avenue A and First Avenue. (There was a one-day epilogue sale the following week.)

Anyway, one year later, the Feb. 28 closing signs remain on the storefront...



The storefront has been on the market. The entire 1,328-square-foot space (no basement access) is available for $6,640 per month.

The Bookshop's longtime home at 31 Third Ave. also remains vacant more than 2.5 years later. St. Mark's Bookshop moved to Third Street in July 2014.

Previously

The rent for the former St. Mark's Bookshop

Two weeks ago we mentioned that the former St. Mark's Bookshop was for rent at 136 E. Third St.

At the time, there was only a mention on LoopNet. As a follow-up, the for rent sign arrived late last week at the storefront in the NYCHA-controlled First Houses between Avenue A and First Avenue.

The listing is now also live at the NYCHA website. The asking rent is $60 per square foot ... the entire 1,328-square-foot space (no basement access) is available for $6,640 per month.



After 38 years at four locations, St. Mark's Bookshop closed for good last Feb. 28.

The former St. Mark's Bookshop is for rent

[Photo by Steven]

We spotted a listing for 136 E. Third St., the last location of St. Mark's Bookshop here in the NYCHA-controlled First Houses between Avenue A and First Avenue.

The listing at LoopNet notes a few details:

Good glass frontage, former bookstore.
No venting, no bars,
No basement. No outdoor use.

The space is just over 1,300 square feet... with an asking price of $60 per square foot. So roughly $7,800 a month.

After 38 years at four locations, St. Mark's Bookshop closed last Feb. 28 (with an "epilogue sale" on March 5).

Among other things, the long-struggling store reportedly owned some $70,000 in back rent to the NYCHA.

The store's previous location, 31 Third Ave., has been tenant free since the St. Mark's Bookshop moved out in 2014. The space has held several pop-up events for the students of landlord Cooper Union.

St. Mark's Bookshop, which closed 4 months ago, receives an eviction notice

After 38 years at four locations, St. Mark's Bookshop closed last Feb. 28 (with an "epilogue sale" on March 5) at 136 E. Third St. between Avenue A and First Avenue.

As you probably know, the long-struggling store reportedly owned some $70,000 in back rent to the city (the NYCHA is the landlord here).

In any event, several readers noted that an eviction notice, dated June 9, had been taped to the gate this past week...



Seems a little late. NYCHA reportedly initiated eviction proceedings last July, per DNAinfo.

Inside, there are still some books on the shelves... looking the way it did on its last day in business.

The photo below is from May 22 by Arthur Nersesian ... the inside looks the same inside today...

An epilogue sale at St. Mark's Bookshop

St. Mark's Bookshop closed for good on Sunday... however, there will be an epilogue sale tomorrow (Saturday!) at the shop, 136 E. Third St. between Avenue A and First Avenue.

From noon to 8 p.m., they'll be selling off more of what's left — books and magazines for $2. (And out-of-season cards are 46 cents, per the sign on the front door.)

Previously on EV Grieve:
Report: St. Mark's Bookshop prepping fundraiser ahead of possible move to Avenue A.

Is this the new home for the St. Mark's Bookshop?

Report: St. Mark's Bookshop signs lease for East 3rd Street space

Renovations at the future St. Mark's Bookshop on East 3rd Street

St. Mark's Bookshop seeking buyers with an ownership interest

Report: Last stand for St. Mark's Bookshop

Report: Latest woe for St. Mark's Bookshop — possible eviction

Looking to carry on the legacy of St. Mark's Bookshop

Farewells: St. Mark's Bookshop will close for good on Sunday

Final visits to 5 downtown businesses

[Patricia Field, center with red hair, with her friends and fans in front of her namesake store on its closing day Sunday at 5 p.m.]

Text and photos by Nick McManus

This past Sunday, a team of close friends and I took group portraits at five downtown businesses that are either moving from their longtime homes or closing forever as February came to a close.

We started at Patricia Field at 306 Bowery with Patricia herself. She's giving up the boutique business after 50 years to focus on her film and TV work.

We continued on to Trash and Vaudeville on St. Mark's Place where we were joined by longtime manager Jimmy Webb. (The store is moving to 96 E. Seventh St. this month.)




[Jimmy Webb in the front row with co-workers at Trash and Vaudeville]

We then walked to Soho to Pearl River Mart, where the staff was camera shy but let us take photos in the store on Broadway. The 45-year-old Pearl River Mart closes this week after its monthly rent multiplied 12x to upwards of $500,000.


[Last purchases at Pearl River Mart]

Afterward we visited the Soho location of Eastern Mountain Sports on Broadway to offer them warm wishes before heading back to the East Village to say goodbye to one of the best bookstores NYC will ever know, St. Mark's Bookshop.


[The staff and patrons of Eastern Mountain Sports' Soho location on its closing day Sunday]


[St. Mark's Bookshop staff member and artist Janet Bruesselbach, top right, sharing wine with her customers on the shop's final day at 7 p.m.]

Our team consisted of nightlife scion Pebbles Russell, who herself said goodbye to her home at Sway Lounge last December, artists Gabriel Specter and Jackson Lin, stylist Goldie Rush, costume tailor Amy McClure and Cara Brininstool. All were fans of these businesses and everyone did a great deal of shopping as we thanked those behind the counter for so many years of good times.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Closing time: Portraits of 3 newly shuttered storefronts

Closing portraits at The Sock Man

A final group photo at Vic's Pizza on Essex Street

Farewells

Today is the last day for three longtime businesses... two are permanent closures and one is a closure ahead of a relocation...


[EVG photo from last week]

Patricia Field is retiring from the boutique business after 50 years. She started in the West Village in 1966, and has been at 306 Bowery the last few years. This store closes today. Field has said that she is now going to concentrate on her film and TV work.

The 306 storefront is for lease.

-----



Today is also the last day for St. Mark's Bookshop at 136 E. Third St. between Avenue A and First Avenue. Any remaining books and magazines are going for $2. This is the shop's fourth location since opening on St. Mark's Place in 1977.

Ada Calhoun's piece published at The New Yorker on Feb. 12 titled "What went wrong at St. Mark's Bookshop" gives you the background about what happened here.

-----



And as we first reported last summer, Trash and Vaudeville is leaving its home of 41 years at 4 St. Mark's Place ... for a new space at 96 E. Seventh St. between Avenue A and First Avenue.

Closing day of our St Marks location has changed to this Sunday Feb 28! Come by & hang w us before we move to 96 east 7th st in March! ❤️🎉👪

— Trash and Vaudeville (@trashvaudeville) February 24, 2016

Farewells: St. Mark's Bookshop will close for good on Sunday

The Bookshop made it official earlier today...

Our last day open will be Sunday, February 28, 2016. Thank you for your many years of patronage.

— St. Mark's Bookshop (@stmarksbookshop) February 24, 2016

Until then, the storefront at 136 E. Third St. between Avenue A and First Avenue — its fourth location since opening on St. Mark's Place in 1977 — is selling off what's left of its stock at 50-percent off...

Meanwhile, there is still a movement to reopen a new bookstore somewhere in the neighborhood. Here's part of our interview from last week with Rafael Khalid, a Brooklyn resident and bookstore lover, who is helping find investors...

New bookstores give authors, poets, and writers a voice to be heard, not just in the community but in the world. Historically, people come from all over the world to the East Village to discover new talent that might not be heard or be able to breakthrough all the noise and clutter. My goal is to continue the legacy or best parts of St. Mark's Bookshop while adapting to today's environment.

Also, at the Daily News today, writer J.I. Baker recalls his time work at St. Mark's Bookshop in the late 1980s.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Report: St. Mark's Bookshop prepping fundraiser ahead of possible move to Avenue A.

Is this the new home for the St. Mark's Bookshop?

Report: St. Mark's Bookshop signs lease for East 3rd Street space

Renovations at the future St. Mark's Bookshop on East 3rd Street

St. Mark's Bookshop seeking buyers with an ownership interest

Report: Last stand for St. Mark's Bookshop

Report: Latest woe for St. Mark's Bookshop — possible eviction

[Updated] These are likely the last days for St. Mark's Bookshop

Looking to carry on the legacy of St. Mark's Bookshop

Looking to carry on the legacy of St. Mark's Bookshop

The other night, I stopped by St. Mark's Bookshop, where the cash-only, 50-percent-off clearance sale continues here on East Third Street between Avenue A and First Avenue.

To some surprise, the store still has items on the shelves ... and the recent visits haven't been quite as depressing as anticipated. (Less like a funeral and more like a co-worker's going-away luncheon.) A few curiosities remain two weeks after the last-ditch effort began at the beleaguered shop.

So in case you have travel plans to Iraq...



If you look long/hard enough, then there are a couple of decent titles left. (There's a copy of Thomas Hardy's "Mayor of Casterbridge" that will be $3 and change after the discount. As an example.)

Anyway, by now you probably know what the store is up against: A mountain of debt, including back rent, fees to publishers and wholesale distributors... not to mention unpaid sales tax.

For more background, you can read recent posts at DNAinfo ... Bedford + Bowery ... and at The New Yorker, Ada Calhoun wrote a piece published last Friday titled "What went wrong at St. Mark's Bookshop." (Spoiler: A lot.)

Even the store's most ardent supporters have said that this is truly the end for the the Bookshop (or that this should truly be the end...), on its fourth location since opening on St. Mark's Place in 1977.

I haven't heard when the shop might actually close for good. When a patron asked the other night how much longer they'd remain open at 136 E. Third St., owner Bob Contant said "I don't know."

Meanwhile, as you may have read (The Awl and Jeremiah's Vanishing New York), there continues to be a movement afoot to keep a new bookstore like St. Mark's Bookshop in the East Village ... a counterpart to crucial used shops like Mast on Avenue A and East Village Books on St. Mark's Place.

Rafael Khalid, a Brooklyn resident and bookstore lover, and longtime St. Mark's Place resident Charles Fitzgerald (once the landlord of St. Mark's Bookshop), have been working to raise money for such an endeavor.

Khalid answered a few questions on his involvement and hopes for a new bookstore in the East Village:

Why did you get involved in helping St. Mark’s Bookshop?

When I first moved to NYC, a friend introduced me to St. Mark's Bookshop. It became my favorite bookstore. I felt I could make a difference in the community and help my favorite bookstore at the same time. I joined a committee of 13 friends of St. Mark's Bookshop that volunteered to help the store survive and continue. I was asked to lead the effort and continued getting results (like moving to a new location).

What is your current plan?

I have given everything I have to save and help St. Mark's Bookshop. But now, the plan is to raise $200,000 for a new store that carries on the legacy of St. Mark's Bookshop. There will be a new management committee, new books, and new energy. But it will carry on the best traditions of St. Mark's Bookshop, like having any author put books on consignment at the store, giving local writers, poets, and activists a voice to be heard, and having a gathering place for the community.

I'm just a facilitator who gets things done. I would love to partner with a local indie bookstore to complete this vision. Then I can move onto helping other bookstores and literary projects.

The store has been holding a clearance sale. Do you know what the next steps are for the store as it exists now?

I'm no longer involved with the store. Bob Contant has always been and always will be in charge of St. Mark's Bookshop as owner of the store. He all of the decisions and was responsible for all of the outcomes related to those decisions.

Why do you think it’s important to have a bookstore like St. Mark’s Bookshop in the neighborhood?

New bookstores give authors, poets, and writers a voice to be heard, not just in the community but in the world. Historically, people come from all over the world to the East Village to discover new talent that might not be heard or be able to breakthrough all the noise and clutter. My goal is to continue the legacy or best parts of St. Mark's Bookshop while adapting to today's environment.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Report: St. Mark's Bookshop prepping fundraiser ahead of possible move to Avenue A.

Is this the new home for the St. Mark's Bookshop?

Report: St. Mark's Bookshop signs lease for East 3rd Street space

Renovations at the future St. Mark's Bookshop on East 3rd Street

St. Mark's Bookshop seeking buyers with an ownership interest

Report: Last stand for St. Mark's Bookshop

Report: Latest woe for St. Mark's Bookshop — possible eviction

[Updated] These are likely the last days for St. Mark's Bookshop

[Updated] These are likely the last days for St. Mark's Bookshop

This past Thursday, St. Mark's Bookshop launched a cash-only, 50-percent-off-everything (except cards and consignment books) sale.

You're correct in thinking that's likely not a good sign for the rent-challenged store's future. For starters, the clerks have been telling customers that they'll only be around for "a few more days."

And Bedford + Bowery spoke with the shop's lawyer, James West, who said that the bookstore was served with a Marshal's Notice about a week ago. They reportedly owe $62,000 in back rent to the landlord, the New York City Housing Authority. And there's more.

Per B+B:

“The people they owe money to are, among others, the State – there are some taxes due – but there are some other creditors, one of them was a book distributor. That was the pressure point.”

“The State doesn’t usually play games,” West added. “That was pretty much it.”

According to New York’s Department of State, a warrant was issued on January 21, 2016 for a $34,408.76 tax lien. The only way out of a tax warrant is to pay the bill in full or file for bankruptcy. Then, as Contant explained, as a result of losing a legal dispute with the book wholesaler Baker & Taylor (which boasts the title of “world’s largest distributor of books and entertainment”) a U.S. Marshal Auction has been scheduled for Wednesday, February 10.

Still, the shop, which has been in several locations since 1977, seems to find a way to hold on. Last Wednesday, The Awl had a post titled "The Mystery Money Keeping St. Mark's Bookshop Alive." There are apparently several investors, including longtime East Village resident (since 1959) and building owner Charles FitzGerald and a man named Rafay Khalid, "who covered the bookstore’s $22,000 down payment on its lease with NYCHA," per The Awl.

What Khalid and FitzGerald propose, and what they hope the city will agree to, is a new lease, with a new company — under a new name, Khalid said repeatedly — that will pay a higher rent than it is currently paying. In return, it will forgive the back rent. FitzGerald, any investors, and a management committee will direct how to allocate any funds raised, including whatever is left of the $200,000 Khalid said he’s already raised. “I think of this as a startup,” Khalid said. “St. Mark’s 2.0.”

Meanwhile, there's the 50-percent-off sale. The store is getting picked over, as you'd expect ... last night, I noticed one copy each of Richard Hell's "Massive Pissed Love," Romy Ashby's "Stink" and Kim Gordon's "Girl in a Band," to name a few titles that I have an interest in ... and there were several copies left of the latest Maximum Rocknroll and Mojo "Punk Anniversary Special" with a CD of "15 pre-punk nuggets" (Hawkwind!)...


[Photo from last night]

St. Mark's Bookshop is at 136 E. Third St. between Avenue A and First Avenue. They are open today (Sunday) from noon to 10 p.m.; 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. on weekdays.

Updated 2/8

Here's more via Publishers Weekly:

Jim West, a lawyer with his own firm who has been providing pro bono legal assistance to St. Mark's, explained that New York City would probably prefer not to see the execution sale happen. The reason, West explained, is because the cost of the auction would likely be higher than the money it will bring in.

If the execution sale does not happen, West said St. Mark's could stay open until March 9, which is the date of the next hearing about the back rent.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Report: St. Mark's Bookshop prepping fundraiser ahead of possible move to Avenue A.

Is this the new home for the St. Mark's Bookshop?

Report: St. Mark's Bookshop signs lease for East 3rd Street space

Renovations at the future St. Mark's Bookshop on East 3rd Street

St. Mark's Bookshop seeking buyers with an ownership interest

Report: Last stand for St. Mark's Bookshop

Report: Latest woe for St. Mark's Bookshop — possible eviction

A sign of hope for St. Mark's Bookshop

[Image via Facebook]

There's a positive development to note in the ongoing saga of St. Mark's Bookshop. Most recently, there were published reports that the rent-challenged shop at 136 E. Third St. between Avenue A and First Avenue was facing eviction by its landlord — the New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA)

Now according to Publishers Weekly (via a post on the St. Mark's Bookshop Facebook page), an investor stepped forward to help the shop that has been in business in the neighborhood for 39 years.

Per Publishers Weekly:

An investor responded to the bookstore’s latest financial appeal on GoFundMe. He will take over the store’s lease and pay the back rent of $62,000, if the store raises enough money to stock the store. “He believes, as I do,” wrote co-owner Bob Contant on Monday, “that if we fill the store with books, our business will increase and we’ll be able to pay our way.”

In addition, the NYCHA has agreed to settle. However, as Publishers Weekly noted, the bookshop still has a long way to go. As of last night, they had raised just under $22,000 of their original $150,000 goal. It was not noted just yet how much money is necessary to stock the store.

Previous on EV Grieve:
Report: Latest woe for St. Mark's Bookshop — possible eviction

Report: Latest woe for St. Mark's Bookshop — possible eviction

[EVG file photo]

According to published reports, St. Mark's Bookshop is in danger of losing its home since July 2014 on East Third Street. The storefront in the First Houses between Avenue A and First Avenue is owned by the NYCHA, who reportedly started the eviction process this past July.

Per DNAinfo: "NYCHA ... said the shop owes $68,361.70 as of this month — a combination of its monthly $6,180 rent, as well as an additional $68.94 in monthly water charges."

Bookshop co-owner Bob Contant told DNAinfo that his attorney was working to get the notice dismissed because "there were a lot of problems with the way the notice was served." While Contant said that the Bookshop was behind on rent, the amount that he and his business partner Terry McCoy owe is less than what the NYCHA is claiming. ("The city has one figure, we have another. We're not on the same page.")

There is more information about the eviction at Bedford + Bowery, who first reported on this. And read the full DNAinfo story here, which includes a statement from the NYCHA.

According to an article in May 2014 at The New York Times, the Bookshop's rent is $6,000 at the East Third Street location, roughly one-quarter of the $23,500 charged by their landlord on Third Avenue, the Cooper Union.

The owners return to court on Jan. 20, though they must pay $6,180 to the NYCHA before the case resumes.

On Nov. 30, the Bookshop launched a GoFundMe campaign to raise $150,000 that it needs to stay in business. As of last night, the campaign had brought in $18,756.

The Bookshop is now in its 39th year, spread over several East Village locations.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Report: St. Mark's Bookshop prepping fundraiser ahead of possible move to Avenue A.

Is this the new home for the St. Mark's Bookshop?

Report: St. Mark's Bookshop signs lease for East 3rd Street space

Renovations at the future St. Mark's Bookshop on East 3rd Street

St. Mark's Bookshop seeking buyers with an ownership interest

Report: Last stand for St. Mark's Bookshop

Report: Last stand for St. Mark's Bookshop

The financial struggles continue for St. Mark's Bookshop.

DNAinfo is reporting this evening that the store "might not make it into the new year unless it raises $150,000 in the next month," based on a crowdfunding campaign launched yesterday afternoon.

The store, now in its 38th year (spread over several locations), opened in its new home at 136 E. Third St. just west of Avenue A on July 19, 2014, after well-documented financial struggles with escalating rents and declining business at its previous home on Third Avenue.

Despite lower rents in the new location, the bookshop is still in arrears. Here's part of a letter that Bookshop co-owner Bob Contant shared with the crowdfunding campaign:

Unfortunately, we were quite undercapitalized for the move and the bookshop has not recovered. Cost overruns left us with little money to stock the store with books...

In an interview with Lisha Arino at DNAinfo, Contant said, "We’ve been going along for the past year just trying to replace the key books in the store and yet we’re doing less and less business because the inventory is depleting ... This is our last stand."

Previously on EV Grieve:
Report: St. Mark's Bookshop prepping fundraiser ahead of possible move to Avenue A.

Is this the new home for the St. Mark's Bookshop?

Report: St. Mark's Bookshop signs lease for East 3rd Street space

Renovations at the future St. Mark's Bookshop on East 3rd Street

St. Mark's Bookshop seeking buyers with an ownership interest

St. Mark's Bookshop seeking buyers with an ownership interest

St. Mark's Bookshop opened in its new home at 136 E. Third St. just west of Avenue A last July 19 after well-documented financial struggles with escalating rents and declining business at its previous home on Third Avenue.

Despite lower rents in the new location, the bookshop is still in arrears. Here's part of a letter that Bookshop co-owner Bob Contant sent out to patrons this morning:

We love our new space. It recently won the American Institute of Architects award for Interior Design.

Unfortunately, we were undercapitalized for the cost of the move. We were forced out of our old space before our new one was ready, and the cost of going into storage plus construction overruns left little money with which to buy inventory. Those of you who have visited our new store in recent months may have noticed the understocked shelves.

For 37 years St. Mark's Bookshop has been a beacon of culture in the East Village, attracting people from across the city, the nation, and around the world. We remain committed to providing a showcase for the life of the mind as expressed by the best books and periodicals being published today, as well as stocking the best of the past. We hold readings and events you cannot find elsewhere. To continue in our mission we need people who value our work and goals to help us.

Please consider buying an ownership interest in a new St. Mark's Bookshop. We have been approached by an investor who is interested in funding a rebirth of the bookstore, reorganizing and restructuring the business with an eye to long term viability. He is looking for others to join him in an investment team. Please contact me if this prospect interests you.

So many people have told us that they need us here in the East Village. We want to continue to serve you and the world of thought and literature. Please help to make that possible, and as always, we appreciate your continued support.

Co-owner Terry McCoy told DNAinfo's Lisha Arino today that the shop isn't in in danger of closing in the immediate future.

"We are in a difficult situation financially and every day is a new challenge. But we don't have any plans to close. That's why we’re pursuing this, we want to take action now to be able to continue."

Previously on EV Grieve:
Report: St. Mark's Bookshop prepping fundraiser ahead of possible move to Avenue A.

Is this the new home for the St. Mark's Bookshop?

Report: St. Mark's Bookshop signs lease for East 3rd Street space

Renovations at the future St. Mark's Bookshop on East 3rd Street

Former St. Mark's Bookshop space still for rent on 3rd Avenue

[Photo from April 23]

Back in April, we noticed that someone had removed the for lease signs from the former St. Mark's Bookshop space at 31 Third Ave. … perhaps ahead of a new retail announcement?

Well, no.

There are just new signs up for the broker…

Now!



Last September!



Here's the description of the space via the listing at Jones Lang LaSalle:

• Neighbors include: Cooper Union, Organic Avenue, The Smith,The Standard Hotel, St. John’s University, New York University,TD Bank, Muji
• Surrounded by retailers, restaurants and corporate offices
• Manhattan’s hottest tech and educational hub
• Firms in the area include: J.Crew, Facebook, AOL, IBM Watson
• Over 65,000 undergraduate and graduate students in the surrounding area
• Consistent foot traffic with St. Mark’s Place, Astor Place and Cooper Square steps away

The rent is available by request. (St. Mark's Bookshop had been paying $23,500 a month here, according to the Times.)

St. Mark's Bookshop moved last summer to a new storefront on East Third Street.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Former St. Mark's Bookshop for lease

Former St. Mark's Bookshop for lease

Signs went up yesterday at 31 Third Ave. We didn't spot the listing online just yet.

Before moving this past summer to a new storefront on East Third Street, St. Mark's Bookshop had been paying $23,500 a month, according to the Times. (The store's new rent is $6,000.)

Anyway, took a little longer for the "for lease" signs to arrive here. Workers gutted the space back in early July.

The lack of rent signage made it seem as if a new bank branch tenant was already in place for the space.

St. Mark's Bookshop is now open on East 3rd Street

The store made its debut here at 136 E. Third St. just west of Avenue A yesterday.

Hours: Noon to 10 p.m. daily.

Image via @stmarksbookshop H/T @SeanCarlson

Background on the move here.