Roses are red, but DUMBO is no longer blue now that it has the city’s only poetry store.
Berl’s Brooklyn Poetry Shop focuses on creative, unconventional poetry books from small, independent press houses that would not find a market in most bookstores.
“We are trying to shine a light on book art and chap books,” said co-owner Jared White. “We are curating a small selection of books that are interesting and important to us.”
The store also plans to host poetry as often as possible, starting with a massive grand opening party that will feature at least 25 readings.
The shop opened earlier this month in a storefront on Front Street that it shares with Spring, an art gallery. Spring, which used to take up the whole shop, moved to the back, and Berl’s is now in the front.
Co-owners White and his wife, Farrah Field, started Berl’s in 2011 as a tiny booth among all the other artisans at Brooklyn Flea. A few months ago, the inventory had grown so large that the couple realized they needed a storefront to keep their business’ momentum moving forward.
“Brooklyn has a rich history of poetry and we want to keep that going,” said White.
Brooklyn’s small presses say they are grateful that Berl’s is now here to help them get their product out to a larger audience.
“It’s really great to have a space where readings can happen that isn’t a bar and isn’t charging a fee,” said Krystal Languell, managing editor of local publisher Belladonna Press.
Grand opening party at Berl’s Brooklyn Poetry Shop [126A Front St., at Pearl Street, (347) 687-2375, www.berlsbrooklynpoetryshop.blogspot.com.] 3pm on Saturday, Nov. 2. Free.
