The corner of 6th Avenue and West 8th Street, #396 6th Avenue, was a book store as long as I can remember it, beginning in the 1980s and continuing into the 2000s, first as a B. Dalton and then a Barnes & Noble (one of their smaller branches before they began building “book supermarkets”). It sat across 8th Street from another venerable Village touchstone, Gray’s Papaya. I still have books in my collection that I purchased at this branch; there was a decent New York city section. In 1940, a Nedick’s held down the corner.
B. Dalton was founded in Minneapolis in 1966 by Bruce Dayton, a successful Midwest department store entrepreneur, who dropped the Y and added an L. The chain expanded successfully, almost to 800 stores by 1986. Discounting by rivals like Waldenbooks and Barnes & Noble began to cut into profits by then, and B & N purchased the chain in the 1980s, converting many Daltons to Barnes & Noble outlets at a time when Amazon was a mote in Jeff Bezos’ eye.
By October 2006, this branch hosted a certain NYC webmaster whose book called “Forgotten New York” had just come out, and a merry band of revelers set off for a mini-tour of the Village afterward. That was 15 years ago, as of this writing. You’re still here, and so am I.
In this era, the intersection of 6th Avenue, West 8th and Greenwich Avenue was called Village Square and the name was displayed on street signs. The name has fallen completely out of favor since the 1940s.
As far as I can tell, the building has stood empty for nearly a decade as the owner cannot find a tenant to fill the space at the desired rent.
Check out the ForgottenBook, take a look at the gift shop, and as always, “comment…as you see fit.”
2/1/21
13 comments
As I recall, the former B. Dalton / Barnes and Noble was supposed to become a TD Bank. The bank signed a lease, never opened the branch, but has reportedly continued to pay the very steep rent on the building for years (Nothing beats a good tax write-off). About 2 years ago, the “Villager” newspaper reported that the bank planned to sublease the space to the Blue Note Jazz Club. Since then, there’s been nothing but silence.
Maybe, just maybe, the landlord is asking too much? Just a thought.
It was a Nathan’s in the 1970s.
Another eyesore brought to you courtesy of a greedy landlord.
Dayton also founded Target.
I remember when it was a Nathan’s in the early ’70s. I was driving a yellow cab then and was a good place to stop off and go to the bathroom. There was a taxi stand right there, too.
I remember the site as a Nathans in the early 1970s.
During the renovation adding the second floor the scaffolding bore a sign ten thousand ( or so) stories being added to this building.
Before it was a bookstore it was a hot dog stand. It was a Nathan’s, and a Nedick’s before that. The opening of Gray’s Papaya across 8th St. sometime after Nathan’s closed meant the hot dog baton/tradition was carried on.
Liqueteria and an huge empty storefront ain’t the same.
I miss the old NYC period, blimpies,T-bone steak, bar hopping in greenwich Village,
I went there many times and bought many books at that store. I was so sad to see it close, along with all the other bookstores on 8th Street.
Since May 5, 2022 this corner has been Spectrum.
I used to be an employee at that B. Dalton store from autumn 1994 to spring 1995. So many colorful characters worked there – I adored them all. I also got to meet a good number of celebrities at that store, as well (it was one of their “flagship” stores, where there were a number of book signings. I started just one week after Lily Tomlin held a signing there for her book). It could be exhausting and even frustrating at times, but it was never boring, I’ll tell you that! I used to catch lunch/dinner at the Gray’s Papaya, as well. It was also convenient, since the Path station was just across the street (I lived in Jersey City at the time, right by Exchange Place). I was a recent hopeful transplant from Pittsburgh, PA. As a gay boy from rural southwest Pennsylvania, walking along Christopher street on a Friday or Saturday evening was quite a revelation (and awakening).
If any of the old crew – Arik, Cedric, Michael, et al – ever see this, please feel free to look me up & say hello! I have marvelous memories of that period of my life.