Corner Bookstore

Specialties

Because we are small, we try to curate our selections to correspond both to our tastes and the tastes of our customers. Relative to our size, we have extensive children, travel, and cookbook sections.

History

Established in 1978.

In 1976 we purchased an 1890s brick-​and-​brownstone «handyman special» on the southeast corner of Madison Ave. and 93^rd St. The ground floor commercial space, which had been occupied by a pharmacy for almost 50 years, had an exquisite interior that boasted a terrazzo floor, tinned ceiling, and wood cabinetry, dating from the 1920s, all hidden beneath many layers of grime and paint. A skillful craftsman, Ray resolved to restore the space to its former elegance, and as we were both bookstore addicts and well aware that there was none in our neighborhood of young families and private schools, we decided to open one ourselves.

The name we chose for the store was inevitable. As Ray said at the time, «We’re on the corner of Madison Avenue and 93^rd Street. No matter what we name it, it’s going to be called The Corner Bookstore! Ray designed an old-​fashioned storefront and made the sign by cutting wooden letters out with a jigsaw and gilding them with 14-​carat gold-​leaf foil.