For three long decades, Syracuse citizens went without an independent bookstore. Finally, in July 2022, Parthenon Books changed that. “I’m ready to collapse from exhaustion,” Says Selena Giampa, creator and manager of Parthenon. Battling supply-chain issues as well as the surprising complexity behind book-buying made the creation of this shop a work of love and labor. On being asked why she does it, Selena says it’s all about community. “You will never get rich from selling books,” she laughs.
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The opening of this independent bookstore gives hope for the city’s revitalization and is an excellent resource for families of all income levels. Not only will the shop offer a change for the community, but it also hopes to bring it closer together, being more than just another place to shop and leave. Selena tells me that her two biggest goals for this bookshop are to “bring back Main Street” and, claiming that it’s a game changer in good mental health, to encourage people to “put their phone down and talk to people. Read a book. Look at some art.”
And there is plenty of art to look at! Three murals decorate this shop’s vibrant interior, all painted by different up-and-coming artists of Syracuse. These works of art not only outfit the space but also give the artists a leg up in their industry. The entirety of Parthenon houses Syracuse’s talent—culinary, artistry, or otherwise. In that way, experiencing Parthenon is to experience Syracuse itself, making it an ideal destination for travelers.
Syracuse
Syracuse is a small city at the very top of New York. If you go much further north past it, you’ll be in Canada. The city struggles with one of this nation’s highest concentrated poverty rates, especially in black and Hispanic neighborhoods.
Acting as a tiny sliver of hope, overall poverty rates have improved slightly in the past few years, according to the most recent data. Syracuse’s fate is similar to that of Detroit—both cities stumbling to find their footing since the industrial jobs have left the area.
That salty air isn’t from the Atlantic Ocean, rather it is a lingering ghost of Syracuse’s past. Appropriately nicknamed “The Salt City,” the city was once an important hub in sourcing, manufacturing, and selling salt. This salty city even claims to be the real reason the North won the Civil War.
With Syracuse (part of Team North) having full control over the country’s salt empire, the South had no way of obtaining this crucial ingredient, which was at that point the main method of preserving food rations. Hungry soldiers make for weak fighters.
Downtown has its fair share of bars and restaurants, but the folks of Syracuse wanted more. This is why in the fall of last year, The Downtown Committee of Syracuse included a bookseller on its “retail wish list.” It didn’t take long for that wish to manifest in the form of the Parthenon Bookshop. Since its opening, Selena says the shop has had all kinds of customers. “People downtown love it, and a lot of people come in from the suburbs.”
Parthenon…So Far
New books make up most of the shop’s inventory, with one small section being dedicated to used books sold at a reduced rate. With a wide reader age range to select from, all ages can find a literary companion on these shelves. “Most of our books come from customer requests,” Selena says of stocking the bookshop shelves. Even their supply is community led!
Selena herself created the bookshop’s logo—an olive tree. In a bizarre show of fate that Selena calls “cosmic,” she is told afterward by a family member that she is the descendant of olive farmers! As we further discuss the bookshop, it is clear that Selena is tied to this shop in many personal ways, cosmic or otherwise. This is a feeling that I’m sure will be palpable when visiting the shop.
While still in its newborn stage, Parthenon has made a unique mark on the city while still staying true to all of its members. Free-to-attend events, like “storytime with a drag queen,” act as an important bridge over the gap between youth and the LGBTQ+ community. When asked about how the community reacted to being read to by a drag queen, Selena stated; “kids won’t think it’s weird unless an adult tells them it is.”
To everyone’s relief, the security patrol they had at the ready was not needed once. “Syracuse is blue, but you go 10 miles up and it starts to turn red,” Selena says of the city’s political climate, saying that haters have only been a problem on Instagram. You’ll find LGBTQ books scattered amongst the shelves rather than in a section of their own, so as not to show divide or separation.
Amongst all the books is a little cafe with tables to sit at and enjoy your coffee with a new book. The baristas here are known to get creative, so ask them about their staff creations to possibly find a new favorite drink! The cafe proudly serves SkyTop, an organic and Fair Trade coffee company that prides itself on its easily traceable supply lines. If you fancy something to eat, you don’t even have to leave the cafe since it’s fully stocked with brownies, cookies, and other treats (locally baked of course).
In the future, Parthenon plans to offer workshops and literacy courses so no one in the community has to miss out on its book selection. They also look forward to participating in and creating off-site book fairs.
A Symbol of Culture
Originally the Parthenon stood as a symbol of elevated culture in ancient Greece. The same can be said, I think, for its standing in Syracuse, New York. After only a month in existence, Parthenon seems to have lived up to its promises of being a community space. Its shelves are stocked with prints, stickers, and cards made by local artists. Murals line the walls, one being abstract purple and yellow swirls covering one corner wall in the children’s section, a colorful frenzy of brush strokes creating what feels like a cosmic burst.
Another mural depicts Athena sitting atop a tall stack of books, while another Greek figure (this is Hermes, judging by his fantastic winged footwear; he is the Greek god of trade, wealth, and luck—all attributes that will be welcome in Syracuse) ascends from the open pages of the one she is reading. Meanwhile, huge white pillars, probably those of the Parthenon, surround her. This is a beautiful homage to the Parthenon—the store as well as the temple in Greece, which was built in dedication to the goddess Athena.
Appropriately for a bookstore, Athena was the Greek goddess of wisdom. Where else can we both obtain and pass on wisdom than a bookstore and coffee shop, places designated for reading, discussion, and listening? She was also the goddess of war. This also feels appropriate considering the war that independent bookstores face against the monopoly that corporate chains and Amazon have on the modern-day consumer market. The people of the Parthenon fight this war with Athena by their side.
Books to Build a Better Future
The COVID-19 pandemic left people in an obligatory timeout. Quickly running out of TV shows and other on-screen media to binge, everyone was dedicated to finding a distracting comfort from the unfamiliar and sometimes horrific reality. This comfort came, for many, in the form of a book. And as our indoor time increased, so did the number of books we purchased. This is the probable cause of the newest generation of bookstores, like Parthenon, a safe space housing shelves lined with tiny escapes.
Independent shops aren’t in competition with each other. Selena says, “I encourage my employees to visit other coffee shops during their break as well as drinking from our own cafe.” She does the same, wanting to support all businesses in the area. When asked about other fun independent local spots, Selena says her favorite is McCarthy Mercantile, a building close to her shop that is full of indie underground shopping.
In a city in the midst of a crucial business rebuild, Parthenon Bookshop seems to be the perfect missing puzzle piece. What do you think should be next for Downtown Syracuse?
Follow Parentheon’s Instagram page for bookshop updates, and shelf additions and to win free book (and more) giveaways @parthenonbookssyr
*Parthenon Bookshop is located at 335 S Salina St, Syracuse, NY 13202
