July 7, 2013 By Bill Parry
Astoria bibliophiles will have plenty to celebrate this summer. Enigma Bookstore will open at 33-17 Crescent Street next weekend.
The neighborhood, which has been without a bookstore since Seaborn closed in 2011, will now have two, when The Astoria Bookshop opens in August.
“We heard about Astoria Bookshop the day after we signed our lease,” said Enigma owner Claire LaPlaca adding, “There’s room for both, and we fill a particular niche.”
Enigma Bookstore will cater to “geeks and nerds,” with a heavy focus on science fiction, fantasy and mystery books. The space, formerly home to a thrift shop, will be furnished with bean bag seating and sofas.
“It will be more of a clubhouse than a bookstore,” said LaPlaca. Enigma will host reading groups, geek-nerd trivia nights, poetry slams and mystery games.
LaPlaca and her fiancé, Hugh Brammer, have delayed their wedding in order to open their store. “With the economy the way it is we know we’re taking a chance,” said LaPlaca adding, “It’s a dream we share and you know the saying – try your dream. If you fail at least you tried.”
