Brazenhead Books, Home of The New Inquiry, Faces Eviction
Brazenhead Books, the tiny speakeasy bookshop located inside an Upper East Side apartment, may soon be forced to close its doors.
Owner and veteran bookseller Michael Seidenberg posted the news that Brazenhead had lost its lease yesterday. “Brazenhead turns its last page on October 31,” the sad message read.
The invitation-only bookshop is a fixture in the New York literary scene, less an actual retail store than a makeshift salon. Jonathan Lethem was once an employee there, and now frequents the store’s regular meet-ups, where bookish folks have spirited conversations over cups of bourbon. It’s also the spiritual home of upstart literary magazine The New Inquiry.
Inquiry founder and newly minted Gawker executive producer Rachel Rosenfelt quickly set up a place for Brazenhead supporters to enroll for future action. “No chance of me letting [the eviction] really happen, planning session is in the works,” Rosenfelt tweeted. “I’ll be asking everyone for help!”
Parties interested in signing up for future action can do so here. Meanwhile, it’s probably time for booksellers to finagle an invitation there while you still can.