The Hispanic Bookstore Tradition in New York City

Author: Juan Carlos Rosales Meza
Mentor: Francisca Suarez-Coalla
Institution: BMCC
Abstract: Ever since the arrival of the first Hispanic community in Manhattan in the late 1800s, New Yorkers have been influenced by their many cultural and artistic contributions. This is evidenced by the fact that a number of Hispanic bookstores were opened during the 20th century. Despite their relevance, there are no previous studies exploring the importance and influence of these bookstores, which is why we chose to explore and raise awareness on the subject. This research aims to document the status of these bookstores, discover their role as cultural meeting centers, and determine the influence of their catalogues on the faculties of Modern Languages or Hispanic Studies of local colleges and universities. In order to achieve these objectives, we conducted extensive research on digital libraries, including literary, advertising, and journalistic publications focusing on ten different bookstores operating from the mid 1900s to today. We analyzed and compared the relationship between bookstores and college departments and their cultural role within the Hispanic community. The results confirmed that bookstores have served and continue to serve as cultural meeting centers for the Hispanic community. Furthermore, we discovered that their catalogues do not influence the local educational institutions, but rather the universities’ faculties request titles which are then located and imported by the bookstores. This research concludes that, even though Hispanic bookstores are struggling to pay the rising rents and facing a tough competition among online stores, those that have managed to survive are a cultural treasure to New Yorkers and to people seeking to connect with their roots.