26-09 Jackson Avenue
May 9, By Jason Cohen
A book store is opening in the Court Square section of Long Island City, an area where developers have struggled to find retail tenants.
Book Culture, which has three stores on the Upper West Side, will be opening a Long Island City location at 26-09 Jackson Avenue in November, according to store owner Chris Doeblin.
The store will be located next to The Hayden, a 50-story residential tower that Rockrose opened earlier this year. It will be the only book shop in Long Island City, with the closest one being the Astoria Bookshop in Astoria.
Book Culture is leasing its space from Rockrose.
Rockrose chief executive Justin Elghanayan said that his company would discount the rent until the book store turned a profit, according to the New York Times. “We think it’s important for the soul of the neighborhood,” he told the Times.
Book Culture began 20 years ago on 112th Street as an academic bookshop for Columbia University students, but eventually expanded to two other locations and now offers books for children and adults.
“Our mission is to open more book stores and get them into small cities,” Doeblin said. “People still like to read and families love to go to bookstores.”