St. Mark’s Bookshop Gets $2,500 a Month Rent Reduction

Manhattan borough president Scott M. Stringer met with representatives from St. Mark’s Bookshop and Cooper Union, hashing out a temporary solution to the bookstore’s rent woes. Cooper Union will reduce the bookstore’s rent by $2,500 a month for the next year and send students to help St. Mark’s create a more sustainable business plan.

The New York Times interviewed owners Bob Contant and Terry McCoy about the state of the store: “Business picked up by about 25 percent in September and October, Mr. McCoy said, leading him and Mr. Contant to believe they could continue with a smaller reduction in rent. The owners have no plans to rehire staff. The store’s finances remain fragile, especially as the current sales levels recede, Mr. Contant said.

Earlier this year, 40,000 people signed a petition asking for “a significant rent concession” from the bookseller’s landlord. Reader Don Linn‘s advice still applies: “You want to save St Mark’s Bookstore, go over there and buys some books from time to time.”

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