{"id":22962,"date":"2024-12-09T09:09:57","date_gmt":"2024-12-09T14:09:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/multi.nycnewsnetwork.com\/brooklynbuzz\/?p=22962"},"modified":"2025-02-13T09:40:20","modified_gmt":"2025-02-13T14:40:20","slug":"indie-bookstores-on-the-rise-discover-brooklyns-latest-literary-gems-for-book-lovers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/nycnewsnetwork.com\/brooklynbuzz\/indie-bookstores-on-the-rise-discover-brooklyns-latest-literary-gems-for-book-lovers\/","title":{"rendered":"Indie Bookstores on the Rise: Discover Brooklyn\u2019s Latest Literary Gems for Book Lovers"},"content":{"rendered":"

By: Natasha Lancaster<\/p>\n

After several decades of independent book sellers going under as online book sales surged, there’s been a resurgence<\/a> in new and used book stores opening across the nation, including in Brooklyn.<\/p>\n

New York City is home to the largest number of independent book stores, and Brooklyn\u00a0has over 50<\/a>, according to the city Office of Media & Entertainment. So if you’re looking for the perfect gift for your literary family and friends this holiday season, look no further than these three new independent Brooklyn bookstores!<\/p>\n

Taylor & Co. Books<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

When Andrew Colarusso moved back to his childhood home in Ditmas Park after teaching at Brown University for seven\u00a0years, he wasn\u2019t sure what he would do next.<\/p>\n

A fan of comic books, he started roaming the city, sometimes going as far as Midtown Manhattan, to browse spinner racks. Then, he thought, \u201cWhat if I had a little comic book shop? Like the kind of VHS store that used to exist across the street. A tiny place that brought us joy.\u201d<\/p>\n

After seeing a vacancy in his neighborhood, he decided to open a general bookstore with a comic section in 2023.<\/p>\n

Still, opening a business\u00a0was unfamiliar. \u201cI’ve never wanted to be in business. It goes against my general inclinations,\u201d he explained.<\/p>\n

Yet, as a community has developed around the store, he\u2019s seen how the space fosters belonging. \u201cThis is a space where people feel open to engage and develop. It\u2019s a hub of communication\u2014not just via text, but in spoken word and presence,\u201d\u00a0 Colarusso added.<\/p>\n

For instance, Maria, a Ditmas Park resident who recently immigrated from Colombia, came into the bookstore, located at\u00a01021 Cortelyou Rd., once and now sells empanadas outside regularly.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe people in the neighborhood love her and look forward to her empanadas and arepas. It\u2019s one of my favorite things about the shop,\u201d Colarusso said.<\/p>\n

Hive Mind Books<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

Hive Mind Books is the latest addition to Brooklyn\u2019s book scene, which opened in October in Bushwick.\u00a0A queer-focused bookstore and coffee shop, Hive Mind has been operating as a traveling bookseller since 2021, but now has a permanent home at 219 Irving Ave.<\/p>\n

Co-owned by Julie Wernersbach, a veteran bookseller and the former literary director of the Texas Book Festival, the store offers a dedicated space for LGBTQ+ Brooklynites to discover and enjoy books that reflect their community.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"img_2242\"
The interior of Hive Mind Books. Photo: Natasha Lancaster<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\u201cAt most bookstores, there’s a queer section, but it’s maybe one or two shelves. Or, sometimes, queer authors’ books are mixed into other sections, so you have to really hunt for them,\u201d Wernersbach explained.<\/p>\n

At Hive Mind, queer stories are foregrounded.\u00a0\u201cIt\u2019s really important that queer books are front and center. You can walk up to our entire fiction section and know all of the books are by queer and trans writers,\u201d she added.<\/p>\n

Hive Mind also hosts various events, including the popular (and free) Hive Mind Reading Room<\/a>, where attendees can hang out,\u00a0read, and enjoy coffee and book discounts.\u00a0This month, Hive Mind is hosting a Queer Writing Night<\/a>, a Tarot Card Reading event<\/a>\u00a0and a book signing with Vera Blossom<\/a>, author of the new essay collection How to Fuck Like A Girl<\/em>.<\/p>\n

Lofty Pigeon Books<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

For residents of Kensington and Prospect Park South, Lofty Pigeon Books\u00a0has become the area’s go-to spot for book lovers.<\/p>\n

The store, which opened in 2023, is owned by Briana Parker and Davi Marra, a married couple who met working at the Corner Bookstore on the Upper East Side.<\/p>\n

For several years after they first met, Parker pursued a career in editing while Marra continued in independent book-selling. However, both of them \u201chad separate dreams since childhood to open a bookstore,\u201d Parker said.<\/p>\n

Then, during the pandemic, when many people were leaving New York City, the duo decided to do the opposite: \u201cWe realized we wanted to dig our heels in and invest in this place. We wanted to contribute to and benefit from being in a community\u201d she added.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"img_2464\"
The inside of Lofty Pigeon Books. . Photo: Natasha Lancaster<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The shop\u2019s whimsical pigeon\u00a0logo, found in a mural on the side of the shop and on store merchandise, reflects its highbrow, lowbrow ethos. \u201cWe want to have all kinds of books\u2014whether you want entertainment, distraction\u00a0or challenge. It\u2019s meant to be a little something for everyone,\u201d Marra said.<\/p>\n

As an independent bookseller, Lofty Pigeon, at 743 Church Ave.,\u00a0is also unencumbered by the narrow inventory of larger book vendors.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe have the opportunity to highlight authors that aren’t backed by giant publishers and we have the chance to curate books that we sense there\u2019s an immediate need for in the community\u201d Marra\u00a0said.<\/p>\n

Lofty Pigeon hosts story time<\/a>\u00a0twice a week, author events<\/a>,\u00a0comedy open mics\u00a0and Hush Hour<\/a>, a silent book club, among other events.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

By: Natasha Lancaster After several decades of independent book sellers going under as online book sales surged, there’s been a resurgence in new and used book stores opening across the nation, including in Brooklyn. New York City is home to the largest number of independent book stores, and Brooklyn\u00a0has over 50, according to the city […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5904,"featured_media":22963,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_exactmetrics_skip_tracking":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_active":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_note":"","_exactmetrics_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[55,523,31,2717],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-22962","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-restaurants-features","category-brooklyn-businesses","category-whats-buzzin","category-bk-news"],"yoast_head":"\nIndie Bookstores on the Rise: Discover Brooklyn\u2019s Latest Literary Gems for Book Lovers - Brooklyn News and Events<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/nycnewsnetwork.com\/brooklynbuzz\/indie-bookstores-on-the-rise-discover-brooklyns-latest-literary-gems-for-book-lovers\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Indie Bookstores on the Rise: Discover Brooklyn\u2019s Latest Literary Gems for Book Lovers\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"By: Natasha Lancaster After several decades of independent book sellers going under as online book sales surged, there’s been a resurgence in new and used book stores opening across the nation, including in Brooklyn. 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