Boulevard Books Opens in Brooklyn

Tomorrow Tatiana Nicoli marks a milestone: the one-year anniversary of her departure from the legal field to launch a new career. She has moved fast in that new career: next Monday, May 17, the lawyer-turned-bookstore owner is opening, in a soft launch, Boulevard Books & Café in the Dyker Heights section of Brooklyn, N.Y.

Since trading briefs for books, "it has been a whirlwind," said Nicoli. While getting to know the industry and setting up her store, she has received guidance from some knowledgeable sources--fellow Brooklyn booksellers, including BookCourt proprietor Henry Zook, a friend of her father, who offered Nicoli insights when she was first getting into the business.

Nicoli met Christine Onorati, the owner of WORD, and Stephanie Anderson, the store's manager, at the NAIBA conference this past fall. Rebecca Fitting, co-owner with Jessica Stockton Bagnulo of Greenlight Bookstore, responded to Nicoli's Tweet inquiring about the Random House sales rep for Brooklyn. At the time, that rep was Fitting herself (who has since left her position with the company). They have offered words of wisdom on everything from mistakes to avoid to operating inventory management systems. "The advice and help that I've gotten from these ladies has been invaluable," Nicoli said.

Initially Nicoli thought that advice was too good to be true. "Coming from the legal field where everything is so competitive, my first inclination was that they wanted to know what their competition is like," she said. "Then I realized how genuine it was." To help learn the workings of a bookstore, Nicoli also worked for a day at both WORD and Greenlight.

When it came to choosing a locale for the store, there was never any question where Nicoli would set up shop. "I didn't choose Brooklyn," she said. "It chose me because I was born there." She has lived in Dyker Heights for more than 30 years, having moved there when she was an infant. Boulevard Books & Café, around the corner from her abode, is located on a commercial strip in a residential, family-oriented neighborhood.

Since purchasing the two-story building, a former law office, Nicoli has transformed the ground-level retail space, doubling it from 900 to 1,800 square feet by expanding into the property's backyard. (A photographer who rents the upstairs apartment has been tapped to take pictures at store events.) A 900-sq.-ft. basement will be used for birthday parties and as a community gathering space.

Boulevard's front section is devoted to children's and YA books. The other half of the store features adult titles, as well as a café and a lounge area. The back wall, constructed of glass, has double doors leading out to a garden with a fountain. The store has dark wood floors and shelves, accented with stained glass and Tiffany-inspired lighting. The ambience is "Victorian, classic, cozy and warm," Nicoli said. "I'd like to create an environment where people want to come in and get comfortable." A reading nook on a platform, adorned with a restored Colonial fireplace mantle, will serve double duty as a space for visiting authors to present.

Once the weather turned warm and more pedestrians were out, the construction, which began in December, proved to be great advance publicity. "I'm out in front of the store all the time with the contractors. People stop every day and ask what's happening. When I tell them it's going to be a bookstore they seem really excited about it. One woman even jumped up and down," Nicoli said. Another way she has been connecting with potential customers is through the store's Facebook account, where she has chronicled the store's creation.

The Boulevard Books & Café Facebook page has more than 200 fans, who will be receiving an invitation to the store's grand opening celebration on Saturday, June 5. The day will begin with a ribbon cutting ceremony with Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz, followed by children's activities and an evening reception for grown-ups. "I can't wait to finally have a place to settle in," said Nicoli. "I couldn't be happier at this point."--Shannon McKenna Schmidt

Boulevard Books & Cafe is located at 7518 13th Avenue, Brooklyn, N.Y., 11228; 718-680-5881; www.blvdbooks.com.

 

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