Astoria Bookshop is an independent bookstore in Queens. A LGBTQ-owned, woman-owned business founded by Lexi Beach in 2013, it sells books in various genres, hosts regular events with authors, facilitates a book club, and occasionally runs holiday book drives.[1] Originally located on 31st Street in Astoria, it moved to a larger location on 30th Street in 2023.
History
editBeach worked in the publishing industry for several years. Hearing from peers and friends that Astoria was lacking in bookstores, Beach thought about opening a bookstore of her own. She and her wife, Connie Rourke, opened Astoria Bookshop a year later, in 2013.[2][3] In August 2023, Beach moved Astoria Bookshop from its old address, 31-29 31st Street, to a larger storefront nearby on 36-19 30th Street.[4][5]
The bookstore has hosted events with authors like Roxane Gay, Elizabeth Sanders, Judy Blume, Erik Didriksen, Dave Roman, Samantha Berger and Isabel Roxas, Stephen Savage, Ananda Lima, and others.[2][6][7][8]
In the media
editStaff from Astoria Bookshop have been interviewed in several publications including LitHub, BuzzFeed News, and Electric Literature.[9][10][11] In 2019, Beach wrote an op-ed in Electric Literature about her decision to not stock The Wizenards, a children's series published by Kobe Bryant's Granity Studios, in Astoria Bookshop due to Bryant's sexual assault case.[12]
The bookstore has also been mentioned in numerous articles and lists about bookstores in Thrillist and others.[13] And Other Stories named it bookshop of the month for August of 2023.[3] Time Out New York ranked it second for best bookstores in New York City, stating it "delivers a much-needed dose of lit to the neighborhood" and featured it in other lists.[14][15] AFAR called it a bookstore in the city that they love.[16] Tinybeans included it on a list of New York City's best independent bookstores for kids.[17] It has been featured on several lists about LGBTQ bookstores in NBC, O, The Oprah Magazine, and others.[18]
References
edit- ^ "Astoria Bookshop's Favorite New Books, Book Drives, & End-Of-Year Updates - Queens Gazette". Queens Gazette -. 2022-12-14. Retrieved 2024-11-12.
- ^ a b Frank, Elizabeth (2015-08-10). "An Interview with Lexi Beach, Owner of Astoria Bookshop". English Kills Review. Retrieved 2024-11-12.
- ^ a b Zankar, Nikita (2023-08-23). "Bookshop of the Month: Astoria Bookshop". And Other Stories. Retrieved 2024-11-12.
- ^ Marcos, Coral Murphy (2023-02-27). "Astoria Bookshop To Relocate To Bigger Space This Spring". Patch. Retrieved 2024-11-12.
- ^ Shkurhan, Iryna (2023-08-23). "Astoria Bookshop Turns Page on 10 Years". Queens Ledger. Retrieved 2024-11-13.
- ^ DeCuir, Marissa (2022-09-15). "An interview with Emily Giglierano of Astoria Bookshop". Books Forward. Retrieved 2024-11-12.
- ^ "In Brief: August 8, 2024". PublishersWeekly.com. Retrieved 2024-11-12.
- ^ "Astoria Bookshop's Upcoming Events". Queens Gazette -. 2024-10-24. Retrieved 2024-11-12.
- ^ Morgan, Katherine (2020-11-25). "About That Wave of Anti-Racist Bestsellers Over the Summer…". Literary Hub. Retrieved 2024-11-12.
- ^ Rebolini, Arianna (2021-03-22). "42 Great Books To Read, Recommended By Our Favorite Indie Booksellers". BuzzFeed News. Retrieved 2024-11-12.
- ^ Lou, Jo (2024-11-01). "The Best Books of the Fall, According to Indie Booksellers". Electric Literature. Retrieved 2024-11-12.
- ^ Beach, Lexi (2019-03-19). "Kobe Bryant's Children's Book Is Not Welcome in My Store". Electric Literature. Retrieved 2024-11-12.
- ^ Baskette, Izzy (2024-01-04). "Find Your Next Great Read at the Most Beloved Independent Bookstores in NYC". Thrillist. Retrieved 2024-11-12.
- ^ Gibert, Tiffany; Culgan, Rossilynne Skena (April 30, 2024). "The best bookstores in NYC". Time Out New York.
- ^ "The best things to do in Astoria, Queens". Time Out New York. July 19, 2024.
- ^ "Independent Bookstores in New York City That We Love". AFAR Media. 2020-04-23. Retrieved 2024-11-12.
- ^ Geikhman, Yuliya (2020-12-07). "NYC's Best Independent Bookstores for Kids". Tinybeans. Retrieved 2024-11-12.
- ^ Godio, Mili; Malin, Zoe; Avery, Dan (2024-06-11). "How shopping LGBTQ+ owned brands supports the entire Queer community". NBC News. Retrieved 2024-11-12.