East Village Bookstore & Gallery Forced to Move!

Village Works Gallery and Bookstore opened in February 2021 specializing in books on NYC culture and supporting NYC-raised artists. We are proud of the contribution we and others have made in the last two years. Unfortunately, our lease is ending and the rent is being dramatically raised. WE NEED A NEW SPACE BY MARCH 31st, when we need to be out. We want to turn this around and find a larger space and expand our mission. 

Cities change and at Village Works we educate ourselves and others about the history of NYC culture past and present, to let people make educated choices about what they are replacing. Despite many people's efforts to save neighborhoods, current local laws do little to protect residents and nothing to protect small businesses from being priced out by the next bank, or chain store or simply remaining empty, as an excellent tax write-off or a means for landlords to secure loans on potential income. With this realization, we acknowledge that most of the people the East Village now attracts are just here temporarily for their New York experience or until they get the next promotion that lands them an apartment in the West Village, where they want to be. 

For now, some opportunities for creativity may still exist below Houston Street in the Lower East Side or East of Avenue C and so we are looking to move to a larger space where we can honor the books on NYC culture and the art and clothing made by NYC artists. We also need more room for the free artist's space we have made available to many artists since opening. We also plan on incorporating coffee and tea service into our next space, expand our community space. Assist us in continuing our spirit to be a home away from home for the multi-generational diversity we attract. 

We have hope that with the right space and a welcoming landlord and neighborhood, we can be ideal tenants elsewhere and continue to fulfill our commitment to value often overlooked NYC-raised artists and the books made and written about them.

Any funds collected will go to securing a new space and any business-related expenses in creating that space. We express our gratitude ahead of time for your concern in keeping Village Works alive as a protector and incubator of NYC culture.