Troubled Sleep, New Independent Bookstore, Opens In Park Slope

BROOKLYN, NY — Despite its name, Troubled Sleep, Park Slope's newest independent bookstore, has brought nothing but happiness to the neighborhood.

The shop, which opened this week on an otherwise sleepy stretch of Sixth Avenue between Park and Sterling places, quickly attracted throngs of literary-minded neighbors — so much so that local author Rachel Fershleiser said her tweet about the store went "viral."

Troubled Sleep itself, which didn't immediately respond to Patch's request for comment for this piece, said online it was grateful for the "warm welcome."

Located at 129 Sixth Avenue in a former pet shop, the bookstore stocks an assortment of used and new books, available for sale from noon to 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday and noon to 6 p.m. on Sundays.

The shop, as longtime neighbors pointed out, is part of the revival of Park Slope's independent bookstores — an industry devastated in the 2010s (both locally and globally) by the opening of big-book-chains and online sites like Amazon.

"I remember when Barnes & Noble first opened on 7th Avenue and 6th Street during the late '90s," one longtime neighbor posted online. "There were five independent bookstores along 7th Avenue at the time. Only one survived," she said, likely alluding to Park Slope's beloved Community Bookstore.

More recently, though, independent bookstores have thrived in the area, including nearby Books Are Magic, which just announced the opening of its second outpost to the excitement of many Brooklynites.

Troubled Sleep was greeted with a similar level of fanfare by Park Slopers.

"Couldn't believe my eyes today — a new bookstore," said one neighbor. "A lovely addition to a pretty bare stretch on 6th Avenue. Welcome to the neighborhood Troubled Sleep."

Find out more about Troubled Sleep here.