Welcome to the Neighborhood: Spiral Books, 147 Sullivan Street
Today we welcome a new small business to our neighborhoods — help us welcome the next. Tell us which new independent store in Greenwich Village, the East Village, or NoHo you’re excited about by emailing us at info@villagepreservation.org.
As advocates for local small business, we find great satisfaction in hearing of new independent establishments opening in our neighborhoods. These arrivals give us hope that reports of the death of mom-and-pops have been greatly exaggerated. Whenever such occasions present themselves, we like to share our enthusiasm with the world in the hopes that others will join us in wishing our new neighbors a warm welcome, and more tangibly, patronize and spread the word to help ensure their success and survival.
The attention economy is built on the tyrannical hold that rampant choice holds over us, and is lubricated by algorithms that know our lesser selves better than we ourselves do. But we do have a choice that looms above this entire arrangement. We either can continue to oscillate, fragmented-focused, between novelty and outrage; or we can venture into the world and nurture our own perspective as we encounter others who are doing the same. Today, we Welcome to the Neighborhood a business that offers an invitation to take the second path. Spiral Books (147 Sullivan Street, south of West Houston Street) beckons customers to explore a wonderful selection of children’s books, exquisitely curated by someone who went out into the world herself, armed with a clear vision of well-considered work that might capture children’s imagination
Mallory Neidich was a long time middle school English teacher with an educator’s passion for getting beautiful meaningful stories into the hands of students. When she tried to do so, however, for her own young children, she encountered a predicament well known to book-shopping new parents: walls upon walls of bookspines that hold little meaning to adults and no appeal to kids, and that force shoppers to either opt for whatever happens to be on display or spend hours hunting for the proverbial needle in the haystack with one hand, while keeping the child entertained with the other. And that’s if you’re at a store. Online, the selection is even more daunting and even less pleasurable. Faced with this challenging situation, Mallory did what she might have done for her students. She started going by herself to libraries and bookstores and going through pile upon pile of books, looking for ones that grabbed her attention.
Mallory’s quest had two direct consequences. First, it led her to discover books that impressed her with their craftsmanship, artistry, and thoughtful storytelling. Second, it made her muse about opening a children’s bookstore that might build a community around such books by creating a palace conducive to discovery, lounging, and programming. Although she had no retail experience, she eventually decided to just make it happen.
Mallory’s search for a space began just a few blocks from her home, in the South Village, where just a few conversations with local business owners led her to a perfect space, the charming tin-ceilinged, brick-walled storefront formerly occupied by India & Purry and right across the street from the Hat Shop. As redesigned by Mallory, the shop has a small space for programming toward the front, large shelves full of accessible, fetchingly presented books, and a small alcove bed for cozy reading time. The heart of the store, however, lies in its book selection.
It’s hard not to be taken in, upon entering the store, by the beautiful illustrations on display, lining the walls on either side, and inviting you to explore the worlds within. Within the store’s collection, you will find noteworthy editions of beloved classics.
But, primarily, you’ll find something even more exciting, books you’ve probably never heard of. So a visit is bound to reward more than just children with the thrill of discovery. Here are a few of the highlights.
• BIG CAT, little cat, a touching story about friendship and loss by Villager Elisha Cooper:
• The Adventures of Cipollino by the great Italian author and educator Gianni Rodari and illustrated by local artist Dasha Tolstikova, who also did the illustrations that decorate the Spiral Books’ display window (see picture above):
• Bunny & Tree, a wordless adventure about the unlikely friendship between a rabbit and a tree
• Juan Hormiga, the story of a formican raconteur and prodigious napper who decides to set off on an adventure.
• Jerry Pinkey’s spectacular watercolor adaptation of the classic Aesop’s fable.
• The Amazing and True Story of Tooth Mouse Pérez, the story of the mouse who does the job of the tooth fairy in most of the Spanish-speaking world. Amazing and true!
Spiral Books also carries a small assortment of high-quality art supplies, like Coccoina glue, the classic, Italian-made adhesive known for its pleasant almond smell and eco-friendly potato starch formula, and stickers by local artist Isabella Pellico.
Perhaps the most exciting introduction to the store is through its rapidly expanding weekend series of free family programs. These include readings and arts workshops led by the artists and authors responsible for the amazing books all around you. But no need to wait till the weekend. Swing by Spiral Books now, welcome Mallroy to the neighborhood, and spend an hour or two losing and finding yourself in any of many possible fantastical adventures and giving your scrolling thumb a well-needed rest.
If you would like us to welcome another independent business to the neighborhood, please let us know at info@villagepreservation.org.