Now Open: Book Thug Nation Rises in Williamsburg

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Book Thug Nation has made us realize how hard it is to name a bookstore. You can go punny, like Word in Greenpoint, or you can use someone's name, like McNally Jackson in Nolita, but it's tough really nail the sort of title that will make shoppers pay attention. Obviously, Book Thug Nation does not have that problem. The store, which opened last month, was founded by four longtime sidewalk booksellers. It carries a selection of used books with an emphasis on literary fiction (although its website also touts its "formidable Martial Arts Section") and doubles as an events space. When we stopped by this weekend, a record player hidden in the corner was playing "Uptown Girl" and the owners were debating John Updike versus Phillip Roth. The shop felt cozy and friendly, and like it had been sitting on the burgeoning N. 3rd Street shopping strip for years.
· Now Open: Task Does the Job in Williamsburg [Racked]
· Book Thug Nation [Official Site]