McNally Jackson Books is an independent bookstore based in Manhattan, New York, owned and operated since 2004 by Sarah McNally, a former editor at Basic Books and the child of Holly and Paul McNally, the founders of the Canadian McNally Robinson Booksellers chain.[1] McNally Jackson's publishing arm is McNally Editions, devoted to rediscovering unduly neglected books.[2] McNally Jackson also operates two Goods for the Study stationery stores on Mulberry Street and West 8th Street.

McNally Jackson Books
IndustrySpecialty retail
Founded2004; 20 years ago (2004)
FounderSarah McNally
Headquarters,
United States
Number of locations
4 stores
Area served
New York metropolitan area
ProductsNew, used and rare books
OwnerSarah McNally
Websitemcnallyjackson.com

History edit

In 2004, Sarah McNally opened the store as a branch of McNally Robinson, a Canadian bookstore chain founded by her parents.[1] In August 2008, the New York store in Nolita split from the parent chain and was renamed McNally Jackson Books.[3][4] The current name references Ms. McNally and her then-husband Christopher Jackson, a senior editor at Spiegel & Grau.[1][5]

By October 2011, the store had invested in an Espresso Book Machine to print both major publisher titles and approximately 700 self-published works per month. The Espresso machine remained in operation until 2017.[1]

In 2012, McNally Robinson was sold from its founders, Ms. McNally's parents, to Chris Hall and Lori Baker, longtime employees of the chain.[6] McNally Jackson remained independent under the ownership of Sarah McNally.

 
Williamsburg store

In January 2018, McNally Jackson opened a second bookstore in Williamsburg, Brooklyn in the Lewis Steel Building at 76 N 4 St.

In September 2019, McNally Jackson opened a third bookstore in the South Street Seaport.[7] They opened their fourth bookstore in Downtown Brooklyn in March 2022,[8] followed by their fifth in Rockefeller Center in the former Time & Life Building in 2023.[9]

In March 2023, the chain announced its original location would be moving a couple blocks down Prince Street.[10]

Publishing edit

On August 26, 2021, the launch was announced of McNally Editions, a paperback reprint series "devoted to hidden gems", with the first titles including books by David Foster Wallace, Han Suyin, Penelope Mortimer, Kay Dick, Margaret Kennedy, and Roy Heath.[11]

References edit

  1. ^ a b c d Hoffman, Jan (October 12, 2011). "Her Life Is a Real Page-Turner". The New York Times. Retrieved March 18, 2017.
  2. ^ "About McNally Editions". McNally Editions. Retrieved November 21, 2023.
  3. ^ "About McNally Robinson Booksellers". McNally Robinson Booksellers.
  4. ^ Sucher, Cheryl Pearl (December 15, 2008). "Glimmers of Hope". Publishers Weekly. Retrieved November 21, 2023.
  5. ^ Chamberlin, Jeremiah (November–December 2010). "Inside Indie Bookstores: McNally Jackson Books in New York City". Poets & Writers. Retrieved November 21, 2023.
  6. ^ "McNally Robinson Booksellers is sold". CBC Manitoba. October 3, 2012. Retrieved March 18, 2017.
  7. ^ "Tribeca Citizen | Seen & Heard: McNally Jackson is open at the Seaport". Tribeca Citizen. September 5, 2019.
  8. ^ Hubert, Craig (March 2, 2020). "McNally Jackson Opens Its Doors at Downtown Brooklyn's City Point". Brownstoner.
  9. ^ Leaden, Claire (January 6, 2023). "A 7,000-Square-Foot McNally Jackson Location Is Now Open At Rockefeller Center". Secret NYC.
  10. ^ Rhamanan, Anna (March 16, 2023). "The iconic McNally Jackson bookstore on Prince Street is officially moving". TimeOut.
  11. ^ Temple, Emily (August 26, 2021). "McNally Jackson is publishing gorgeous new paperback editions of overlooked classics". Literary Hub. Retrieved November 21, 2023.

External links edit