Buildings that housed BookCourt are undergoing a makeover

Brooklyn BookBeat

October 23, 2018 By Raanan Geberer Brooklyn Daily Eagle

The old BookCourt building. Eagle file photo by Lore Croghan

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The historic 19th century storefront at 161 Court St. in Cobble Hill that housed neighborhood bookstore BookCourt until 2016 has been replaced by a modern metal-and-glass one.

While the low-rise 19th century building’s upper stories are basically untouched, “it doesn’t look like the same building,” according to Brownstoner.

Next door at 163 Court St., another 19th century low-rise building, renovations are ongoing behind a construction fence and scaffolding. This building, which also housed part of BookCourt, is slated to get a vertical addition as well as a rear one, Brownstoner reported.

BookCourt had been in business since 1981, but it closed after the owners decided to retire and sell both buildings, Brownstoner said. Listings were advertised in August for apartments on the upper floors of 161 Court St., showing renovated interiors.