Introduction to Shakespeare & Co.
The bookstore company featured in the seminal film "When Harry Met Sally," is reportedly closing two of its brick-and-mortar locations, leaving only one New York City shop open by the end of the month.
Beloved bookstore Shakespeare & Co. is closing the doors on its third Manhattan location, on Broadway and West 105th Street, almost one year after launching the store.
Reasons for Closure
"Shakespeare & co. regrets to announce that we will soon be leaving this location. We want to express our heartfelt gratitude for your support and loyalty over the past year. It has been a pleasure serving this wonderful neighborhood community," a sign addressed to customers at the 105th location reads.
One of the Upper West Side store’s owners told the West Side Rag the decision to close the store was due to financial concerns.
Financial Concerns
"It was a really great landlord, a wonderful community," Dane Neller told the outlet. "Love the neighborhood, love the customers. We just weren’t able to get to the sales level we needed to make the store sustainable."
Neller told the West Side Rag that the bookstore company’s East Side store on Lexington Avenue between East 68th Street and East 69th Street will also close.
Impact on Other Locations
There are no plans to close the second Upper West Side location on Broadway between West 68th Street and West 69th Street.
Shakespeare & Co. once had another Broadway location eventually pushed out by the rise of Amazon and bigger book retailers like Barnes & Noble. That 81st Street store gained an extra bit of notoriety serving as a backdrop in the classic film "When Harry Met Sally."
Connection to "When Harry Met Sally"
Remember that scene in When Harry Met Sally where Harry sees Sally at a bookstore? Well, that was the old Shakespeare & Company on Broadway and 81st Street. We may not have @BillyCrystal or Meg Ryan, but we have some great books! Come on in, you never know who you will meet!
Conclusion
Final dates on the company’s two store closings are not yet known. The closure of these two locations marks a significant change for the beloved bookstore chain, leaving fans and customers to wonder about the future of the remaining location.
FAQs
- Q: Why is Shakespeare & Co. closing two of its locations?
A: The company cited financial concerns and the inability to reach the necessary sales level to make the stores sustainable. - Q: Which locations are closing?
A: The locations on Broadway and West 105th Street and on Lexington Avenue between East 68th Street and East 69th Street are closing. - Q: Will the other Upper West Side location close?
A: No, there are no plans to close the second Upper West Side location on Broadway between West 68th Street and West 69th Street. - Q: What about the location featured in "When Harry Met Sally"?
A: That location, on 81st Street, was previously closed due to the rise of Amazon and bigger book retailers like Barnes & Noble.
