For co-owner Nancy Bass Wyden, the Strand Book Store is no longer her grandfather's Strand--or her father's, for that matter. Yet despite many recent changes that Wyden has made with her father, Fred Bass, who is still deeply involved in the store, the New York City bookselling landmark has retained much of what has made it so popular to booklovers around the world for 80 years: huge selection and excellent prices.
Most of the changes at the Strand, which was founded by Fred's father, Ben Bass, in 1927, flow from
an extensive renovation and
expansion two and a half years ago that included opening up the second
floor to
retailing, installing a store elevator with a staircase around it,
and adding new lighting, floors, air conditioning and bathrooms. The
store
now has a sizable children's section on the second floor.
The
renovation "has made operations a lot easier and is
more customer friendly," Bass said. "The place is brighter and cleaner." Indeed, the
store has lost its traditional dusty, dark feeling. Even
the basement level seems cheerier.
Best known for its used books, rare and collectible titles, ARCs and inadvertent
contributions of current titles from publishers, the Strand has quietly
become a major buyer of frontlist titles from publishers as well. Wyden
said that the store is the No. 1 or 2 of Random House's independent
bookstore accounts. Bass explained the reason for buying new
books: the store, which specializes (if a 55,000-sq.-ft. store with 18
miles of books really can specialize) in art books. When the Strand
didn't have the art-book stock customers asked for, "We started buying
the books because we didn't want our customers to go up the street to
our competition." Although the store discounts 25% on those new books and
has very thin margins, "it pays to keep the customer," Bass added.
(Used books remain the Strand's "gravy train," as Bass described it.)
The store also now regularly hosts events, which take place on the new
second floor. (Many bookcases are on casters, and for the events, the
store adds a podium and platform by the huge windows overlooking
Broadway and 12th St.) For example, last week the store held an event
for Richard Serra Sculpture: Forty Years, the catalogue for the
big exhibition that opened earlier this month at the Museum of Modern Art.
And this past Saturday the store hosted its first ticketed event,
featuring Chuck Palahniuk who read from Rant: An Oral Biography of Buster Casey,
followed by a discussion and signing. (The 150 customers received a
copy of the book and a Strand tote bag for $35.) The store has also
hosted panels, C-Span2 Book TV tapings, wine tastings and more.
Sales on strandbooks.com now account for more than 27% of overall sales at the
Strand, and customers hail from around the world. Wyden called the online
retailing world a challenge, saying, "It's not simple to do, as many
booksellers know, but our sales are great."
Bass said that he is not exactly sure when the store was founded
other than "around June" 80 years ago. "I tried to dig up some of my
father's old leases," but was unsuccessful. So far, the store has
celebrated its anniversary with a large BEA party co-sponsored by Publishers Weekly. Speakers included former Mayor Ed Koch, Fran Lebowitz, Frank McCourt, Art Spiegelman, Kurt Andersen and Adam Gopnik.
In October, the store will host a "customer appreciation" party, as
Wyden put it. There will be champagne, cupcakes and cake, tote bag
giveaways, and the store will unveil the Strand 80--the favorite books
of Strand customers. (Customers are currently voting; more information online.)
At the
party, prize winners will be drawn. The grand prize winner will receive
all 80 books included on the Strand 80. Second prize is a private
walking tour of literary New York City. Third prize is an $80 gift
certificate.
Bass and Wyden say they have no plans to expand beyond the main store
on Broadway, their store on Fulton Street downtown and kiosks in Central
Park. "We want to get better and better and improve our stock," Wyden
said. Bass added: "We have enough to handle here, and we want to have
control over what we do." Besides, he continued, New York is "the
center of the art world and publishing."
The family owns the Strand's 11-story building (most of which is office
space), which has made the store's existence easier than it might have
been, considering the value of Manhattan real estate. "Owning the
building enabled us to expand and make renovations," Bass said.
For the Bass family, the Strand continues to be a labor of love,
judging from comments by the second- and third-generation owners. Bass,
who has worked in the store since age 13 and continues to do much
of the buying, often from his desk on the main floor, said, "The dust
got
into me, so I got into the store. It's a nice group we've dealt with in
the business." Wyden added, "We're really fortunate to be part of the
book community."
By the way, Wyden and her husband, Senator Ron Wyden (D.-Ore.), are
working on the next generation of owners (who might have a bent
toward political books): she is expecting twins this fall.
Congratulations yet again!--John Mutter