Located in Greenpoint in Brooklyn, New York, an area replete with eateries, bars, and shops, Archestratus Books and Foods takes up two storefronts on a quiet side street.
The unique shop specializes in vintage and new cookbooks, as well as meal and pastry options from an in-store cafe. Fresh, specialty produce like garlic, sage, and artichokes are also available for purchase.
Together, the spaces add up to 1,800 square feet, with one entrance focusing on books and the second giving way to a 600-square-foot floorplan featuring a food preparation area. Owner Paige Lipari calls the shop’s aesthetic “Sicily meets Scandinavia,” as the space which merchandises Italian fare is functional and organized.
The bookstore presents a collection of new and vintage books “on the fact and fiction of food,” shares the Archestratus website. This area also includes a houseware section and a wall of specialty food items, most of which are imported from Italy. Lipari says the company is particularly proud of its extensive tinned fish collection, as well as its Marco Colzani Pistacchi Spread, a local favorite. Pastas, oils, and breads are merchandised in the space that also has three refrigerators: one for meats, sourced locally from farms like Hog Farm on Long Island and Rosenkrans Farm in Auburn, New York; another for in-house prepared sweet and savory foods as well as fruits, vegetables, and spices sourced from farms across the U.S.; and a third for dairy and cheese.
The cafe area features Sicilian delights in addition to select drinks and alcohol, available on the weekend. This area serves as a food lab, test kitchen, and private rental space.
Combination bookstore and food destination, the shop seeks to create “an extremely harmonious food experience,” Lipari tells SFA News Daily. “When looking through the cookbooks, you may get hungry and explore the cafe, and if you’re eating the food, you can … [satisfy your interest in] how the food is made.”
At the back of the cafe, the kitchen is open so customers can speak directly with the chefs, and learn more about the food, recipes, and techniques.
The recently renovated store serves the devoted local community but welcomes those from all over the city.
“Archestratus seeks to make people’s lives better on a daily basis,” Lipari says. “We also want to be a community space where people can share their gifts and showcase their talents.”
The store hosts events for the community to speak with and learn from people in the food industry, including chefs, authors, and educators.
Lipari explains that the Italian influence in the shop goes deeper than its flavors. It’s her heritage.
“I am fascinated by Sicily as a place that has been conquered by different cultures. It’s extremely diverse just as NYC is extremely diverse. I’m interested in what this melding of cultures does to a place. I feel Archestratus does that too: bringing together different chefs and experiences,” she says.
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