News: Morningside Books to Close Next Month
This little news item appeared on the online edition of the Columbia Spectator, Columbia University’s newspaper. I can’t express how sad this makes me. I worked in that neighborhood for many years. During my lunch or after work, I’d always stop by to buy a book or two. Below are the first few paragraphs of the article
Morningside Books to close next month
by Sam Levin
Morningside Bookshop, a family-owned bookstore now 5 years old, will be permanently closing its doors in June, owner Peter Soter announced on Wednesday.
This store, located on 114th and Broadway, has Columbia as its landlord. Soter said that, though the University has been “very supportive, and very helpful,” he is simply not making enough money to stay open.
To read the rest of the article, click on the title.
Rebeca Schiller is the editor of Alvah's Books. She reviews literary fiction and non-fiction.
The chain bookstores strike once more!
1In this case it wasn’t the chain bookstores. Rents are very high in NYC and even though Columbia owns the building and tried to be reasonable, the owner didn’t have the funds to keep it open. That neighborhood teems with students during the school year, but it’s dead during the summer and a lot of businesses that cater to students suffer.
2