Hullabaloo Books opens Friday at 711a Franklin Avenue, the space previously occupied by controversial pawn shop Crow Hill Jewelry. (You may recall their, uh, interesting mural of a baby decked out in gold and cash.) The store will carry fiction, poetry, cookbooks, children’s books, art, and African American history and culture, starting with used books and gradually phasing in new ones as well as magazines. A section will be devoted to Crown Heights authors and artists. Owner Michael de Zayas also owns Little Zelda and Wedge Cheesemonger on the same street. A New York Daily News story about the store replacing the pawn shop called it “evidence of [the] next chapter for gentrifying Crown Heights enclave.” What do you think? Will the store be a welcome addition to the neighborhood?

Protests Against a Pawn Shop on Franklin [Brownstoner]
Franklin Avenue Business Owner Fundraising for New Bookstore [Brownstoner]
Crown Heights Pawnshop Is Back [Brownstoner]  GMAP


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