Spoonbill & Sugartown Books

Spoonbill & Sugartown Books
Inside of the bookstore in 2024
Map
General information
Address218 Bedford Avenue
Brooklyn, NY 11211
Coordinates40°43′00″N 73°57′33″W / 40.71676°N 73.95923°W / 40.71676; -73.95923

Spoonbill & Sugartown Books is an American independent bookstore on Bedford Avenue in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, New York. Founded in 1999, it sells new, used, and rare books in a variety of genres with emphasis on art, design, and architecture.

History

In 1999, Spoonbill & Sugartown Books was founded by Miles Bellamy and Jonas Kyle on Bedford Avenue in Williamsburg. Bellamy and Kyle had met each other working at another bookstore for a few months in the eighties. Originally, the two scouted Tribeca for the bookstore's location but settled in Williamsburg.[1] In 2003, Quentin Rowan joined as an owner.[2]

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the bookstore elected to stay open, citing it as a crucial decision for the bookstore's survival. The book's staff worked with "reduced hours" and only permitted "six customers at a time." They also ran a fundraiser on GoFundMe to sustain the bookstore's operations, raising over $100,000 by June of 2020.[3][4] In 2021, Bellamy stepped down from co-ownership of the bookstore.[5]

Past events have included "Paul Auster, Leslie Scalapino, Eileen Myles; artists like Vito Acconci, Lisa Yuskavage; critics and curators such as Jed Perl, Bob Nickas," and others.[1]

Inside of the bookstore

In the media

Spoonbill & Sugartown Books has appeared in numerous publications. Co-owners Bellamy and Kyle have been profiled in The New Yorker, The Brooklyn Rail, and other magazines.[6][1] The bookstore's cats, Hayes and Rainer, have also been profiled.[7][8] Racked included it in a list of the 20 best independent bookstores in New York City, as well as an article about where to shop in Williamsburg.[9][10] Condé Nast Traveler has written about the bookstore several times in articles about Williamsburg and the city writ large.[11][12] The bookstore also made an appearance in the show Girls, directed by Lena Dunham.[13]

References

  1. ^ a b c "Miles Bellamy and Jonas Kyle with Phong Bui". The Brooklyn Rail. 2024-08-20. Retrieved 2024-11-12.
  2. ^ Haughney, Christine (November 10, 2009). "10 Years of Selling Books in an Online Age". The New York Times.
  3. ^ Bonini, Victor (2020-06-11). "Used Book Stores Aren't Picking Up Where They Left Off". Bedford + Bowery. Retrieved 2024-11-12.
  4. ^ "Facing Closure After 20 Years, Spoonbill & Sugartown Books Launches Crowdfunding Campaign". Greenpointers. 2020-04-23. Retrieved 2024-11-12.
  5. ^ Bellamy, Miles (2021-04-06). "Co-owner Miles Bellamy Leaves Brooklyn's Spoonbill & Sugartown". Brooklyn Eagle. Retrieved 2024-11-12.
  6. ^ Fishman, Howard (2019-10-23). "Should We Pay to Enter Bookstores?". The New Yorker. ISSN 0028-792X. Retrieved 2024-11-12.
  7. ^ Cellania, Miss (2011-01-06). "12 Bookstore Cats". Mental Floss. Retrieved 2024-11-12.
  8. ^ Parker, Melanie Jane (2011-03-09). "Ten Best Independent Bookstores of NYC". Gothamist. Retrieved 2024-11-12.
  9. ^ Gurfein, Laura (2015-03-17). "New York City's 20 Best Independently Owned Bookstores, Mapped". Racked NY. Retrieved 2024-11-12.
  10. ^ Hargrove, Channing (2016-05-03). "The Best Stores in Williamsburg". Racked NY. Retrieved 2024-11-12.
  11. ^ Erdekian, Alex (2021-01-07). "A Guide to Williamsburg, Brooklyn". Condé Nast Traveler. Retrieved 2024-11-12.
  12. ^ Liebling-Goldberg, Melissa (2018-03-01). "The 42 Best Things to Do in New York City". Condé Nast Traveler. Retrieved 2024-11-12.
  13. ^ Carlson, Jen; Jan 14 (2013-01-14). "GIRLS Goes To Bedford Avenue's Coolest, Indie-est Bookstore". Gothamist. Retrieved 2024-11-12.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)