Local rapper Nesio looks through the books at Word Up. Craig Warga/News
Washington Heights residents just want to read books – and have a place to hang out.
Locals will be able to do both now that the popular Word Up bookstore has been granted its second extension until the end of November, organizers announced this week.
“I’m really relieved,” said volunteer Veronica Liu, who runs the community bookstore on Broadway near W. 175th St.
“We’re here for everyone here, and I think that comes through. It’s an open community space.”
But in addition to being a community space that has hosted literary events and performances by more than 200 local artists, the space is also popular among book consumers – even in an age of Kindles, iPads and Nooks.
“We’ve sold over a thousand books, new and used,” said Liu, adding that they also sell books by local authors, who get 100% of the profit.
Liu believes the massive book sales were a good sign, especially since a bulk of the sales were during the “dead of summer.”
Read more: Washington Height’s Word Up bookstore gets yet another extension to November.
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I can’t wait to visit the bookstore!