Book Row was a district in New York City from the 1890s to the 1960s composed of six city blocks which, at its peak, contained over three dozen bookstores. [1] [2] [3] Many – if not most – of the places were used bookstores. [4] In its heyday, Book Row spanned the stretch of Fourth Avenue between Union Square and Astor Place. [5] [6] Other names for it included "Booksellers' Row" and "Second-Hand Row." [7] [8]
By the 1960s, skyrocketing rents had forced most of the bookstores to move or close. [9] [10] Apartments replaced most of the former storefronts. [10] [11] Another factor contributing to Book Row's decline was the retirements and/or deaths of the stores' original owners. [12] [13] By 1984, just two stores remained on Fourth Avenue. [12] The only bookstore from Book Row that survives today is the Strand Bookstore, which moved away in 1957 due to major rent increases. [4] [14]
Other booksellers grew old and vanished.
40°44′00″N 73°59′28″W / 40.7332°N 73.9910°W
Book Row was a district in New York City from the 1890s to the 1960s composed of six city blocks which, at its peak, contained over three dozen bookstores. [1] [2] [3] Many – if not most – of the places were used bookstores. [4] In its heyday, Book Row spanned the stretch of Fourth Avenue between Union Square and Astor Place. [5] [6] Other names for it included "Booksellers' Row" and "Second-Hand Row." [7] [8]
By the 1960s, skyrocketing rents had forced most of the bookstores to move or close. [9] [10] Apartments replaced most of the former storefronts. [10] [11] Another factor contributing to Book Row's decline was the retirements and/or deaths of the stores' original owners. [12] [13] By 1984, just two stores remained on Fourth Avenue. [12] The only bookstore from Book Row that survives today is the Strand Bookstore, which moved away in 1957 due to major rent increases. [4] [14]
Other booksellers grew old and vanished.
40°44′00″N 73°59′28″W / 40.7332°N 73.9910°W