Difficult times for famed Parisian bookstore Shakespeare & Co. asking for help

In financial trouble is the famous Paris bookstore Shakespeare and Co.: since the first lockdown was implemented in March, its sales have dropped by 80 percent, like many of the independent bookstores, and now on social media it has issued a plea for help.

“We are not closing,” Sylvia Whitman, the daughter of the man who opened the bookstore in its current version in 1951, declares to the Guardian (it was first opened in 1919 thanks to Sylvia Beach and was frequented by famous writers throughout the twentieth century, including Francis Scott Fitzgerald, Ernest Hemingway, TS Eliot, and James Joyce), “but we are getting by with our savings and with the help the government is giving in this time of emergency. However, we are not able to cover all the expenses.” He adds, "We know that everyone is going through a difficult time. We just want to invite people to help us to continue selling the books we have on our shelves, the rare books we have."

Since this call for help, the bookstore has already received support and commissions, and even subscriptions. “Since last week,” reads the official website, “we have received so many orders and we are deeply grateful.”

The bookstore is open in Click & Collect only, daily from 12 to 6 p.m., and its Café is also open for takeout Monday through Friday from 3 to 5 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday from 1 to 5 p.m.

Ph.Credit Kiran Ridley/Getty Images

Difficult times for famed Parisian bookstore Shakespeare & Co. asking for help

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