VILLAGE WORKS is a community oriented bookstore and gallery that sells books on NYC culture and provides gallery space for artists raised in NYC and the surrounding region or have had considerable impact on the city. The art and merchandise primarily documents NYC. We are located at 12 St. Mark’s Place on a block that was the birthplace of many music cultures including punk rock and an epicenter of such music genres as jazz, folk, rock, hip hop and house music.

The founder, Joseph Sheridan has been active in NYC culture since arriving in the city as an older teenager in 1983. From his Danceteria and Paradise Garage days to the promoter of the legendary Sunday party ‘CAFE con LECHE’ for most of the 1990’s. After overcoming many obstacles in his life he was able to fulfill his dream of opening a bookstore focused on NYC and NYC artists. Joseph was diagnosed with cancer in 2025 and though the cancer is in remission he went into a three week coma on April 23 2026, a result of the treatments. He came out of the coma against all odds and is now receiving physical therapy at NYU Langone. After this near death experience his priorities have shifted and he saw his two junior partners, Damian and Dominic Bielak were fully capable of eventually being at the helm of Village Works. These twins are homesick for the joy of growing up in pre-gentrified NYC. Their message through art and poetry isn’t against people moving here for their own New York experience, but protecting those priced out and displaced from their communities.

Joseph also wants to spend quality time with his sister. In order to facilitate this transition there is back rent to be paid to our amazing landlords and funds needed to fill the gaps Joseph will now only be able to partially fulfill at the store and related travel expenses. The twin’s vision of the store brings a youthful perspective to the five year old passion shared by all three. Your contribution to the continual survival of an independent bookstore provides an example of the importance of small businesses that reflect the authenticity of its originators, a contrast to the dullness of corporate businesses in a city infested by them and their conformity. Instead Village Works provides a community space where people from or attracted to the neighborhood can meet, dialogue and create a better and fairer community, while picking up a real book or original art to inspire ourselves and others.