How the Bronx’s Only Bookstore Does Money

Noëlle Santos, the owner of the Bronx’s only (future) bookstore/wine bar, The Lit. Bar, describes the situation in the Bronx best in herIndiegogo campaign: in a borough with more than 1.4 million people, 10 colleges and 42.7 square miles, there is no bookstore. This has been true since Barnes & Noble shuttered its location in the Bronx last December and remains true as Santos searches for a location for her new business.

Not one to watch idly as the Bronx (hometown of J. Lo and Justice Sonia Sotomayor, as Santos also points out in her campaign) was left without a place to buy the latest bestseller, Santos set about working on a business plan, winning an award from the New York StartUp! Business Plan Competition in the process, started a crowdfunding campaign and reached out to mentors across the U.S. to create her own.
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Below, she shares how the campaign came together and where the money will be going as The Lit. Bar comes to fruition — all with the help of her incredibly helpful and detailed spreadsheet.

Read more at The Billfold.