Go Buy a Book in the East Village

The lovely St. Mark’s Bookshop is hoping for a $5000 reduction each month in their $20,000 monthly rent — and they expect to perhaps hear from their landlord, Cooper Union, today.

A reduction of $5000 a month! Why, that’s all of 250 purchases at a (very low) estimated average purchase price per customer of $20. (That would be eight customers a day.) I would describe that as a harrowing view into the store’s finances and costs.