Aw, shit: New York's McNally Jackson Books is closing its Nolita store

New York City's amazing McNally Jackson Books is closing its flagship bookstore on Prince Street in Nolita; the store is a neighborhood fixture and a hub of literary events (I've appeared there); they also sport a cafe and a book-printing machine.

I visit McNally Jackson every time I'm in New York. It's one of my favorite bookstores in the world. When I needed to print and bike-messenger a copy of my novel Walkaway and get it to Ben Wizner at the ACLU in time for him to hand-deliver it to Edward Snowden on a trip to Moscow, it was McNally Jackson that printed the book and handed it off to a bike messenger.

20% of New York City's retail space is empty: greedy landlords have kicked off a retail death-spiral that has left one of the world's great cities in tatters, with storefronts occupied by popups, Duane Reeds, Citibanks, or nothing.

McNally Jackson still has another location in Williamsburg. I wish them all the best with it and most sincere condolences on the loss of one of New York City's last great independent bookstores.

A tipster alerted us to the Winick leasing banners that were affixed to the facade of 50 Prince Street (at Mulberry) yesterday evening. Following the trail online, the brokerage is now pitching the 5,700 square-foot space for July 2019 possession (sub-divisions considered). No word just yet on the monthly rent, an increase of which is reportedly what forced McNally Jackson from the neighborhood.

McNally Jackson Bookstore is Leaving Prince Street After 14 Years [Bowery Boogie]

(via Kottke)