Breaking: PowerHouse Arena Bookstore to Leave Dumbo Space

PowerHouse Books Dumbo

Dumbo indie publisher and bookstore powerHouse Books is vacating its 10,200-square-foot marquee space at 37 Main Street in February.

But before you reach for your pearls at the thought of losing this neighborhood treasure, know that powerHouse isn’t moving far. It’s relocating to the former Gramercy Flower Shop space at 32 Adams Street, just two blocks west from powerHouse’s current location.

The reason for the move? PowerHouse’s 10-year lease is up.

“We’ve been here since 2006 and during these 10 years we had hurricanes, we’ve had fires, we’ve had recessions,” powerHouse founder Daniel Power told us. “And Two Trees worked with us through each of those tough periods.”

Power told us the developer has new plans for the 37 Main Street space — which includes 5,000 square feet of ground-floor retail and over 175 feet of glass frontage.

Two Trees Principal Jed Walentas told us, “PowerHouse Books has contributed to the vibrancy of DUMBO and has provided a literary sanctuary in a city that has few left. It is a terrific neighborhood asset and it will be a fixture in the neighborhood for years to come.”

Two Trees also worked to help keep powerHouse in the ‘hood — though the new retail space is a mere 2,500 square feet, less than a quarter the size of powerHouse’s current digs.

PowerHouse Books Dumbo Moving

The future powerHouse Books space at 32 Adams Street. The iconic Manhattan Bridge archway is directly across the street

“It’s much much smaller,” Power admitted. “And I’m still trying to figure out what to do with the publishing company, which occupies the mezzanine [in the current space].”

PowerHouse Books Dumbo

A view of the interior of powerHouse Books via powerHouse

Power established powerHouse Books in 1995 as an independent publishing house. The company moved its office to Dumbo in 2006 and opened the powerHouse Arena bookstore and event space, which has hosted hundreds of exhibitions, readings and performances over the years. In 2010, powerHouse opened a second bookstore in Park Slope — powerHouse on 8th.

Dumbo has become something of a literary mecca in the past decade — not only powerHouse, but P.S. Bookshop and Berl’s Poetry Shop have opened in the neighborhood, not to mention publishers Verso Books and Melville House.

PowerHouse Books Dumbo

[Photos: Barbara Eldredge]