Strand Book Store
From Free net encyclopedia
Image:Strand Book Store.jpg Image:Strand annex 1.jpg The Strand Book Store, located at Broadway and East 12 Street in New York City, is an independent bookstore famous for its giant collection of rare, used, and out-of-print books, its advertising slogan "18 miles of books", and the creative chaos on and around its shelves.
A family-owned business with more than 200 employees, the Strand was opened by Benjamin Bass in 1927 on 4th Avenue, the Book Row of America. His son Fred took over the business in 1956 and soon moved the store to the present location, where the store occupies three floors, using two additional floors as warehouse space. Fred's daughter, Nancy, is currently working on "corporatizing" and "de-unionizing" the business in preparation for her eventual tenure as owner.
A second store is located on Fulton Street, in Manhattan's famous financial district. The store on 12th St. is currently undergoing an extensive renovation which is generally considered to have compromised its well known run-down character.