Noelle Santos, a South Bronx native and human resources professional, plans to open a general interest bookstore/wine bar called The Lit. Bar in the New York City borough next year. Bookselling This Week reported that the theme of the bookshop will be Bronx-related, and "non-book merchandise will include reading and wine-related items as well as anything appealing to women who enjoy the arts. Santos, who said she aims to enliven the traditional bookstore business model, also hopes to imbue the store with 'a graffiti and chandelier' aesthetic, including concrete floors mixed with elegant touches and works by local artists on the walls."
Santos noted that Nicole Sullivan of BookBar in Denver, Colo., has served as her mentor for the past two years, adding that her business "will look completely different... even though it will be the same concept."
She also said, "I want to send the message that the Bronx is not burning anymore; the Bronx is burning with a desire to read. People think of the Bronx as just being the botanical gardens, the Zoo, and Yankee Stadium--people miss out just because of negative stereotypes. I want to do my part through literature and community gatherings to make sure that other people get a taste of what the Bronx really has to offer and to have a healthy way to communicate about certain issues.... I'm trying to create a healthy way for the new residents that we have seen moving in and the existing residents to communicate and interact with each other and actually become neighbors."
Santos is blogging about her journey to opening the store at 1stnoelle.com.