Prior to opening Mil Mundos Books, a new Spanish- and English-language bookstore in the Bushwick neighborhood of Brooklyn, N.Y., last month, owner Maria Herron had spent roughly three years as a bookseller and buyer at Bluestockings Bookstore on the Lower East Side in Manhattan, and her first job at the age of 14 was as a library page. She recalled that, in a way, she's wanted to open a bookstore of her own for years and years. But that desire became something far more real, and pressing, late last year.
In the fall of 2018, Herron explained, "with gentrification spilling hard into eastern Bushwick, large tech companies being handed our home city by our elected officials" and spaces for celebrating culture rapidly disappearing, "it became more of a 'we need to do this, to keep our city and culture,' than just a dream."
Herron officially began looking for retail space in late December, and on March 15, Mil Mundos was open for business. The roughly 500-square-foot store has an inventory evenly divided between Spanish- and English-language titles, with a focus on celebrating black and Latinx culture. And while Herron and her team, which consists of three other booksellers, sell some used books, the majority of the inventory is made up of new titles.
She reported that when it comes to sourcing her store's Spanish-language titles, the translations typically come from imprints distributed by larger houses. She acquires others from various small presses in both the United States and abroad, and explained that she formed many of these relationships when she was a buyer at Bluestockings.
As for nonbook items, Herron said Mil Mundos carries some arts and crafts items, educational toys for children and a selection of candles. She and her team are currently waiting on stock for a tarot deck about which they are very excited, and are continually looking for new local vendors. Mil Mundos also has a small coffee bar. The store sells coffee, tea and guava pastries, which Herron and company purchase from a local Colombian bakery called Son de Cali. Added Herron: "And at times when it's not too busy, we also brew up Cuban cafecitos as well."
Herron and her team have ideas for a variety of events. During the day, they hope to use their space for things like tutoring and homework help, while at night, they plan to host poetry readings, author signings and book launches.
So far, Herron reported, the Bushwick community has responded well to the store. Before Mil Mundos was even open, while Herron and her colleagues were building out the space, people frequently stopped by to ask about their plans. "We are only two and a half weeks old, so people are still learning that we are here," said Herron. "But the reaction has been very warm so far." --Alex Mutter