2014 Village Award Winner: Unoppressive Non-Imperialist Bargain Books

Located at 34 Carmine Street between Bleecker and Bedford Streets, Unoppressive Non-Imperialist Bargain Books has got a big name and an even bigger place in the hearts of Village neighbors and New York City bibliophiles. Stocking a floor-to-ceiling collection of personally-selected works at remarkably low prices, this independent bookstore has been a fixture of the South Village for over two decades. GVSHP will be honoring it with a Village Award at our upcoming ceremony at The New School on June 16th.

Founded by Jim Drougas in 1992, the shop was originally located two doors down and moved to its current location a few years later.  Selling publishers’ overstock and special book fair acquisitions from around the world, the store, its collection, and its owner are prime examples of the type of unique institutions that give the Village its character.

Jim was no stranger to book dealership before he opened his Carmine Street location. He had previously operated a store in Brooklyn called the Unknown Obscure Little Bookshop as well as the celebrated New Morning Bookstore on Spring Street in SoHo in the 1970s.

He is also directly involved in his community, helping to organize the parents’ movement to save the Downing Street Playground as a part of the Co-op School where his children attended, and donating books to the Occupy Wall Street Library. Jim’s wife and children have also all helped in staffing this Village treasure.

Have you made you reservation this year’s Annual Meeting & Village Awards yet? This celebration of Greenwich Village will be held on Monday, June 16th starting at 6:30 P.M. at The Auditorium at The New School. You must have a confirmed reservation to attend.