[title]
As the saying goes, when one bookstore closes, another one opens—or something like that. While we were sad to hear that Shakespeare & Co. would be shuttering its Upper West Side location, we are relieved to report that the uptown neighborhood would soon be gaining another bookstore, courtesy of The Strand.
RECOMMENDED: The best bookstores in NYC, including specialty and used shops
Yes, The Strand will officially take ownership of the Shakespeare & Co. location at 2020 Broadway, between 69th and 70th Streets, near Lincoln Center. After moving into the space on June 1 to restock and complete minor renovations, the 2,500-square-foot new outpost of The Strand—a beloved NYC chain that already has locations at 828 Broadway and 450 Columbus Avenue, as well as kiosks in Central Park and LaGuardia Airport—will open to the public in early July, per owners.
“Shakespeare & Co. has been an invaluable and treasured resource on the West Side since the 1980s and in 2018 opened a store near Lincoln Center to build on this tradition. The Strand Book Store aims to honor and continue this legacy as we expand our presence on the Upper West Side with the addition of this new store. And of course, all current Shakespeare & Co. booksellers and baristas will retain their employment with us,” said The Strand's owner Nancy Bass Wyden, whose family has owned the legendary bookstore for three generations.
“We cannot wait to deepen our commitment to the Upper West Side by offering all the great things The Strand is known for: exquisite curation of new, used, and rare books, our Blind Date with a Book program, Studio Strand and other bookish merchandise, expert bookseller recommendations, and our extensive event programming for children and adults,” she added.
Along with shelves upon shelves of books—though it's unclear if the new storefront will boast the brand's signature "18 Miles" of books—The Strand at Lincoln Center will also serve as a café serving coffee from Brooklyn Roasting Company.