Shakespeare & Company in Paris to Open Café in October

Shakespeare & Company, Paris
Photo courtesy of Shakespeare & Company

Most travelers to Paris don’t miss a stop at the venerable book store on the banks of the Seine, the old haunt of expat American writers. The original Shakespeare & Company was opened by Sylvia Beach in a different Left Bank location, where it was frequented by the Lost Generation greats like Hemingway. George Whitman opened his book store in 1951 at 37 rue de la Bûcherie (its present location), later naming it Shakespeare & Company to honor the original. Managed by his daughter Sylvia Whitman today, Shakespeare & Company continues to be a vibrant part of the Parisian literary community, hosting events, and even welcoming visiting writers to spend the night upstairs.

In October, Shakespeare & Co will open a café adjacent to the shop—as George Whitman once dreamed of doing. It will be run by Marc Grossman, the American expat who’s the founder of Bob’s Food. The café will serve bagel sandwiches, organic juices, and coffee from local roasters Cafe Lomi. There will also be Afternoon Tea. The hours will be 9 AM- 9 PM.