As the most famous bookstore in New York, Shi Chuande Bookstore has survived for nearly a century, and its “18 Mile Book” has won the patronage of countless tourists and locals.
Shi Chuande Bookstore was established in 1927. After the Great Depression and two world wars, it survived the “Big Box” department store and e-commerce challengers. But now the owner of Shi Chuande Bookstore says that the store is known for seemingly countless second-hand and rare goods, but it may become a “victim” of the coronavirus.
“The revenue of Shi Chuande Bookstore has fallen by nearly 70% compared to last year. Although we have received a new crown rescue loan and our cash reserves have allowed us to survive the losses of the past eight months, we are now at a turning point where our business is unsustainable.” Shi Chuande Nancy Buss Wyden, the third-generation owner of the bookstore, said.
This matter has attracted attention online, and people have reposted topics with #Save The Strand on social media. Actor Patton Oswalt tweeted: “I want to shop online at @strandbookstore today. I hope you can do the same? #Save The Strand”.
The new crown pneumonia pandemic has hit individual bookstores across the United States. In the 1920s, the six blocks of Fourth Avenue were called “Book Street.” Of the 48 bookstores named after the area, only Shi Chuande still stands. After moving to its current location on Broadway and 12th Street, the store made a catalog that contained 2.5 million new, used and rare books.
