Congratulations to the Old New York Book Shop in Atlanta, Ga., which is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year. The legendary used and rare bookstore operated until 1996 in a house on Midtown's Juniper Street and "became famous for its legendary invitation-only book parties and its most famous customer and the shop owner's best friend, Pat Conroy," the Sandy Springs Reporter noted. The newspaper added that while it's no longer in its original space, the bookstore, still operated by founder Cliff Graubart and his wife, Cynthia Graubart, is located in their house in Sandy Springs.
The book parties "were Conroy's idea to help bring more business into the struggling little shop that sold used and rare books at prices as low as 25 cents," the Reporter wrote. "Whenever an Atlanta writer got published, the shop would host a book-signing-and-schmoozing party to celebrate. Book parties were the only time the shop sold new books."
"I get calls all the time, asking, 'Is this the same shop that was on Juniper Street?' " said Cliff Graubert, who still makes personal visits to homes if a book collection sounds interesting. "I go look and usually buy some or all of the books." He maintain an inventory of 10,000 individual books in his basement.
The Grauberts also sell their own books. Cliff has published a short story collection, The Curious Vision of Sammy Levitt, and is working on a memoir about Conroy. Cynthia has published 12 cookbooks, including co-authoring Mastering the Art of Southern Cooking with Nathalie Dupree. Her two newest books are being released this spring.