Left Bank Books Returns To The West Village

WEST VILLAGE, NY — Left Bank Books re-opened in the West Village Saturday some three years after closing its brick-and-mortar shop.

The used and rare bookshop re-opened at 41 Perry St. between Waverly Pl. and West Fourth St. Saturday. The bookshop's return comes three years after the shop closed its doors after 24 years in business.

When the shop closed, "it was a shame and everybody lamented that," said Erik DuRon, co-owner of the shop with a background in rare and antiquarian books.

But after the bookstore closed, DuRon and another former employee Jess Kuronen revamped it to sell rare books online — what they call Left Bank 2.0.

After building an online customer base, DuRon and Kuronen began readying to re-open the shop in a brick-and-mortar location early last summer, said DuRon.

"[T]hings accelerated and moved pretty quickly," DuRon said.

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Thanks to everyone who came out and helped make today the best opening day ever!
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The goal for the new location is to "retain the old Left Banks DNA" while emphasizing selective used and rare finds for book-lovers ranging from beginners to seasoned collectors — similar to how the duo has recreated Left Bank online, DuRon said.

"The city has lost so many of these types of small independent used book shops," said DuRon. Given the difficulties of keeping a shop open and the small space they scored on Perry Street, the shop owners hope to curate a rare book environment in the shop with a selective inventory — somewhat like a gallery.

The emphasis on rare books will bring in a selection of finds from the 20th and 21st centuries, sometimes earlier, on literature, art, film photography and more, which can range from $10 to the hundreds and even thousands of dollars, DuRon said.

"We strongly identify with the artistic and cultural heritage of the Village, NYC's 'Left Bank,' and look forward to reimagining what a small, well-curated Village bookshop can be," the co-owners wrote on the shop's website.

DuRon said they were "thrilled" with the response on Saturday's opening day, with more than 50 people showing up throughout the day.

To celebrate its re-opening, Left Banks will host Thursday evening drinks, snacks, music and books 6 to 8 p.m. each Thursday in April.

Left Bank Books' current hours are Wednesday through Sunday 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. or Tuesday by appointment.