Build A Bookstore in the Heart of Brooklyn!

Perhaps you're here because, like me, you're a dreamer. You're someone who values a quiet and relaxing space to escape the hustle and bustle of city life. Whether you're in the city or farther afield, the daily grind of adult life can wear us down. That's why it's so important for us to have space, outside of our homes, where we can feel safe, where we can decompress, where we are allowed to dream and replenish our capacity for hope, happiness, and wonderment. That's our goal with Taylor & Co. Books!

Taylor & Co. Books will be a family-owned bookstore operating in the heart of Brooklyn's heart, Ditmas Park. There hasn't been a bookstore in our neighborhood for nearly two decades! And while there are some lovely alternatives in this vast borough, none are really within walking distance.

Having grown up here, I never would've imagined opening a bookstore not five minutes from where I went to Kindergarten and where I made so many of my first and best memories!

Our small spot, in the former Brooklyn ARTery (1021 Cortelyou Rd), will be a home for new and used books, comics and curios, artist consignment, and community events. We'd like to have story-time for kids and readings for adults. We'd like to be a home for local artists and writers looking for more exposure (or those looking to sell a few remaindered copies of their best-seller).

As a writer, I know firsthand how strange and lovely and special it is to write for a living. I also know how nightmarish and difficult it can be. And as a professor at Brown University's Literary Arts MFA program for seven years, I have some sense of what books and stories can do when thoughtfully shared with inquisitive minds. My role in this will be to curate both our books and our space so that when you walk into Taylor & Co., you are greeted by some new idea, some new color, some new form or shape or story that might inspire you on the way home (whether you buy a book, a tote, a camera...or not!).

So let's make this happen! Your donation will help cover the cost of the deposit ($7500) and first month's rent ($3500). It will also help cover purchase of new inventory, installation of furniture, and other necessities (like Point of Sale software and hardware, website development, utilities and maintainence). These things, of course, can add up. But with your generous donations, we can help break even much faster! Trust that what you donate to Taylor & Co. will go directly into the shop, and what doesn't get invested into the shop, will be invested in the community. We are here to serve you and your literary needs!

GoFundMe does not allow for tiered donations. I suppose, in the past, people have made promises they can't keep and rewards are not sent and complaints are made. In lieu of rewards for your donation, I can offer a personalized thank you note (if you so desire to be identified and provide your mailing address). And for those of you who contribute $1000 or more, I hope to paint your name in the shop window as a thank you. I'd like everyone who passes our cozy bookstore to know it couldn't have happened without your generosity.

If you can't donate financially, consider instead sending books! We'd love to give your old books or records a new home. If you've got books or records collecting dust and you'd like more room for your Peloton or Ikea loveseat, send them to (with your name and return address just in case) or drop them off at:

Andrew Colarusso

1019 Beverley Rd

Brooklyn NY 11218

Thank you for reading this. Thank you for being a blessing in my life, a blessing in the life of Taylor & Co. and blessing in the life of our neighborhood. I'm looking forward to all the memories we'll make in the coming years!

¡Pa'lante!

Andrew Elias Colarusso