Community Bookstore Owner Retires After Saving The Beloved Shop

PARK SLOPE, BROOKLYN — The so-called literary "oracle" who helped save Brooklyn's oldest independent bookstore announced his retirement last week.

Ezra Goldstein, a Park Slope resident and longtime co-owner at Community Bookstore, shelved his last book at the shop on Friday, leaving the store in the hands of his business partner, Stephanie Valdez.

"I am immensely proud of what Stephanie and I have accomplished in the nearly 12 years since we took over a failing business," Goldstein wrote in a retirement letter that was shared with customers and community members. "We built a national reputation for the quality of our stores and the honor we pay to books, which are much more to us than just a product that we sell."

In 2009, after a decades-long career as a writer, Goldstein took over Community Bookstore from a friend, who (contending with the rise of Amazon plus a nearby Barnes & Noble location) was eager to shed the responsibility of the shop and move to Albania, JTA reported.

While the start wasn't easy, Goldstein and Valdez gained momentum as they filled the shop with a bevy of titles befitting the literary tastes of Park Slopers (and the array of writers who lived a stones throw away at the time: Paul Auster, Siri Hustvedt, and Nicole Krauss, to name a few).

"We are known for the high quality of the books we stock but, truth be told, those are the books our customers buy. Any praise we get must be shared with them," Goldstein said in his retirement letter.

The bookstore duo then got to work transforming Community Bookstore into a space befitting its name, hosting frequent literary events and opening the backyard for readers (and the shop's beloved furry friends, a turtle and Tiny the cat).

In 2013, Goldstein and Valdez acquired Terrace Books, in neighboring Windsor Terrace, and managed to keep both shops afloat during the pandemic; bringing Community through to its 50th year in business.

Valdez penned her own letter bidding farewell to Goldstein and welcoming a new era for Community Bookstore.

"With the incredible support of the communities around us and the hard work of our dedicated staff, we are entering this milestone year with a stable foundation," wrote Valdez.

"The only thing left is to celebrate both Ezra's retirement and the store's 50th anniversary," Valdez added. "We hope we can toast to these occasions with you soon."

According to a recent Instagram post from the business, the celebration appears to be underway and has already included a Russ & Daughters spread.

The iconic New York City deli responded with its own message for Community Bookstore, replying, "It takes one special place to know another special place."

Read the full letter from Ezra Goldstein and Stephanie Valdez here, and find out more about Community Bookstore here.