Shakespeare & Co. will transfer ownership of its last New York storefront, located on the Upper West Side, to Strand Book Store on June 1, marking the end of an era for the beloved bookseller. The Strand aims to reopen the space in early July as the Strand at Lincoln Center, which will be their third brick-and-mortar storefront and second on the Upper West Side. All Shakespeare & Co. employees, including cafe workers, will retain employment with the Strand, according to a press release.
Shakespeare & Co. put down roots in Manhattan over 40 years ago and began expanding its presence under new ownership in 2015. With initial aspirations of becoming a national indie chain, the literary hub, which sold both trade and textbooks and hosted a book-printing machine, closed two other storefronts earlier this spring, including an Upper West Side location that had been in business for just one year. For years, Shakespeare & Co. had been beleaguered by competition from online booksellers—and, more recently, rent hikes and rising operating costs, according to West Side Rag.
The Strand, well known for its “18 mile” selection of new, used, and rare books as well as bookish programming for both children and adults, opened its 828 Broadway location in 1927, and it was given landmark status by the New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission in 2019. In addition to its flagship, the Strand has stores at 450 Columbus and LaGuardia Airport, as well a Central Park book kiosk. While management and the staff union have butted heads over contract negotiations in recent months, the Strand has shown no signs of economic precarity.
“Shakespeare & Co. has been an invaluable and treasured resource on the West Side since the 1980s,” said Strand owner Nancy Bass Wyden, granddaughter of founder Ben Bass. “The Strand Book Store aims to honor and continue this legacy as we expand our presence on the Upper West Side.”
