By Sharon Wu
So I used to work at the Housing Works Bookstore Café (Crosby St. & Jersey St., near Puck Building). One fateful day, I was verbally attacked by an old woman who wanted to use my employee discount to buy The Secret in hopes of getting over her husband’s death. When I refused because it was against company policy, she said, “When my husband was bleeding on the subway platform, some people just walked by and some tried to help. You would’ve been one of the people who walked away.”
So basically, Housing Works Bookstore Café is a fun and inviting place.
But seriously, when imagining the Bookstore Café, think cute, indie New York bookstore (without the blood). It’s the perfect place for a get together with friends, a quiet afternoon date with a book, or best of all, study for finals. There are thousands of titles of all genres lining the walls and a cute café — filled with coffee, baked goods, things that make the world go ‘round etc. — in the back.
If you don’t know already, Housing Works is a non-profit organization that provides services to homeless New Yorkers living with HIV/AIDS. They have one bookstore and a number of thrift shops around the city, including one next door to Gramercy. All items are donated and usually sold for about half the original price, but they’re all in stellar condition. The Bookstore accepts books, DVDs, CDs, scripts, and all sorts of other random stuff. All proceeds go to a good cause.
People don’t usually go to look for a specific book. Rather, it’s perfect for browsing your favorite genre or just looking for a new read. You’ll be delighted by all the treasures and weirdos you can find.
There are also has a number of events every month, including concerts, readings, a weekly board game night, a weekly comedy night, and happy hour. Refer to the website for the unlimited possibilities!
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