Little Zelda Owner Opening Bookstore in Crown Heights

Michael De Zayas, the man who brought two new businesses and a non-profit playspace to the Franklin Avenue area in the past 18 months is planning a fourth venture.

He's planning to open a community bookstore that will have a full slate of free author readings, speakers, kids events and teen and adult writing workshops, all for free. He also plans to create "an evocative street garden" to be used as a combination reading and community garden space. 

"The main idea is to create an environment that fosters the growth of a literary and arts culture in Crown Heights, said De Zayas on the bookstore's kickstarter page, which was launched yesterday. The $18,420 campaign will be used to fund the community events for the first year.

Called Hullabaloo, the bookstore replaces the former site of a pawn shop at 711a Franklin Avenue at the Corner of Park Place (next to the laundromat).

It is right around the corner from De Zayas' two other businesses, the cafe Little Zelda and the cheese store Wedge. It's a block and a half from It Takes A Village, a non-profit playspace for the 0-3 set and their parents, De Zayas' third area venture.

There is no doubt that the inside of Hullabaloo will be striking as the shelves and floor will be designed and installed by Kenny Nix, the designer behind Wedge and Sunshine & Co. De Zayas has hired gardener Sarah Wells to design the outdoor space.

The kickstarter campaign has some heavy support. Author Sarah Langan who, for a donation of $250 or more, will name a character after the doner in her next work or review a manuscript. Artist and author Mike Perry is donating prints of his work for a donation of $20 or more and will "create a giant one-of-a-kind zine" called "Lost Track Of Time" for a donation of $3,000 or more.

Work is already in high gear inside the store and De Zayas hopes to open by the end of the summer.