The Housing Works Bookstore

The Housing Works Bookstore
126 Crosby Street
New York, NY 10012
(212) 334-3324
View their website

Average Base Cost: $30,000

Average base cost for a wedding at The Housing Works Bookstore is calculated by figuring a 125-person guest list on a Saturday night using an average food/beverage cost of $200/pp. Entertainment, additional decorations and rentals, DJ, parking, and photography are not included. Average base cost includes state sales tax. Price is rounded up to the nearest thousand.

*Prices subject to change

How it Breaks Down

Facility Rental Fee: There is a basic fee for rental of The Housing Works Bookstore space, outlined below. However, if you are using The Works Catering for food (which you are required to do) you would disregard these hourly rates since the space rental is included in their quote…more on their price ranges, below!

• Every Day Prior to 5pm: $1000/hour
• Monday Through Friday 5pm-9pm: $800/hour
• After Store Hours and Sunday after 5pm: $600/hour
• Saturday between 5pm-1am: $800/hour

IMPORTANT NOTE: It’s been noted by brides that the window of time you have for setup can be tight. For example, for an evening wedding you can’t start setting up until after the bookstores closes at 5 p.m. (unless renting the space during the day). However, the staff is clearly used to this and know what has to be done!

What’s Included When Renting Just the Venue (minus catering): 

• One staff member for set-up and breakdown, with additional staff available for hospitality for events with over 50 guests
•  Store-wide stereo system with iPod hookup; additional sound equipment available for rent
• Wired microphone located at North Staircase and projector with no sound

Food/Beverage: The Works Catering is the exclusive caterer for the venue. Generally, you can expect prices to range from *$180-$300pp depending on night of the weekend, services requested, guest count, and length of party. The minimums are as follows:

• Friday & Sunday evenings are a $12.5k minimum invoice
• Saturday evenings and Sundays of Holiday weekends are a $17.5k minimum invoice
• Monday-Thursday evenings are a $10k minimum invoice
• Holiday weekends have staffing & equipment rental premiums associated with them in addition to invoice minimums.

Food/Beverage Contracts include the following:

• Food Service: hors d’oeuvres, dinner, dessert/plating, etc.
• Bar and Beverage
• Professional service & Chef staff
• Equipment rentals including table linens, linen napkins, table settings, glassware
• Space rental including set-up and breakdown
• Two one-hour planning meetings with our event management team in preparation for your event.
• Tax

Extras: The Works Catering also offers a vintage serveware option, with various packages of vintage plates and more ranging from $10-$20/pp (they have a la carte options as well).

*Estimation is based on space rental, staffing, equipment rental, bar service, and food.

More Stats:

Space Type: Inside

Size:

• 110 Guests for a plated dinner with a dance floor
• 150 for a buffet with 100% seating with a dance floor
• 200 for a cocktail style event with dinner stations with 50-60% seating
• 250 for a standing reception with limited seating and passed appetizers

NOTE: For wedding ceremonies The Housing Works can provide seating for 30 guests and then standing balcony view for the remainder of your guest count.

Bridal Suite: No

Parking: No

Food Service Type: Your choice

How Will Grandma Get There? The Housing Works Bookstore is located a block away from the N/R Prince Street station (which is super convenient) and extremely close to an array of great hotels, like The Mercer, The Bowery Hotel, and the Sheraton New York Tribeca.

Party On! Events at the Housing Works Bookstore can go until 1 a.m.

The Report

In 1990, four members of the AIDS activist group ACT UP—Keith Cylar, Charles King, Eric Sawyer, and Virginia Shubert-founded a group called Housing Works, dedicated to helping homeless men, women, and children in New York City living with HIV and AIDS.  In 1995 Housing Works opened it’s Thrift Shop. Filled with designer wares at super good prices (I used to love shopping there), the Thrift Shop quickly become a NYC institution while raising revenue to further serve its mission. It later opened The Housing Works Bookstore (and subsequently The Works Catering in 1997) as a way to channel all profits to medical care, job training and social services to New Yorkers living with HIV and AIDS. With 20-foot ceiling and mahogany-paneled balconies, a portion of space rental of The Housing Works Bookstore is tax deductible.

Woman Getting Married Says

Some wedding venues just scream New York City. Venues like the Plaza or The Harold Pratt House are definitely on that list, and The Housing Works is, too. It kind of feels like everything New York City is: Hip, smart, chic, and just edgy enough to keep it interesting. While this wedding venue can definitely work for a formal wedding (in a funky kind of way), I also think it’s perfect for a more informal ( think retro) wedding reception or cocktail party.

While no wedding venue in New York City is going to be inexpensive after you include catering, this one is pretty well-priced. And the fact that all profits go to charity is amazing and well worth it if you have the budget (and the tax deduction doesn’t hurt!). I would definitely go outside the box when it comes to wedding decor (taxidermy, anyone?!) and have fun if you choose this as your wedding venue.

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