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| The new Book House of Stuyvesant Plaza | |
The Book House of Stuyvesant Plaza in Albany, N.Y., recently "moved down the sidewalk" to a new storefront in the Plaza. The bookstore closed on Monday, February 2, and reopened on Tuesday, February 10. Store manager Cheryl McKeon reported that volunteers launched the move with a symbolic "Book Brigade" and then helped unpack and shelve inventory in the new store. During the bookish ceremony, Susan Novotny, owner of the Book House as well as Market Block Books in Troy, reminisced about the store's 50-year history in the plaza, crediting loyal customers for their support.
The bookstore relocated from its space between Bountiful Bread and Apple Barrel Home + Pantré to a storefront between Sur La Table and Athleta, "the same space the bookstore previously occupied nearly 40 years ago," the Times Union reported, adding that at 4,000 square feet, both sites are about the same size.
On January 30, Stuyvesant Plaza had joined the bookseller in putting out a call for Book Brigade volunteers to support the effort: "Calling All Book Lovers & Community Helpers!... It's a short window, a big impact, and a truly community-driven moment you won't want to miss. How you can help: Volunteer for just 30 minutes and be part of this fun, meaningful effort to keep a beloved local bookstore moving forward (literally!).... Let's show up, lend a hand, and pass some books together. Thank you for supporting local and being such an amazing community!"
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| Book House's book brigade volunteers. | |
The request was soon answered in full. Afterward, Stuyvesant Plaza posted on Facebook: "Thank you to all the volunteers who braved the cold to support Book House of Stuyvesant Plaza as they kicked off their move to their new location within Stuyvesant Plaza!"
WTEN caught up with Novotny while the Book Brigade was in action. "It's a wonderful way to bring out the community," she said. "And all of our great customers love this bookstore. We've been here going on 51 years and moved around the plaza over the years. This is actually where we were in the 1980s. We're really happy with this location.... The space looks terrific and you're going to love it."
Last fall, when the move was first announced, Novotny had noted that with the relocation, the bookstore will be closer to The Lawn, an outdoor green space for community activities. "The Lawn at our doorstep will be a big plus for book-signings and will add another dimension to our events," Novotny added.