The Real NYC Bookstore That Inspired 'You've Got Mail'

The 1998 romantic comedy "You've Got Mail," directed by Nora Ephron and starring Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan, centers on a cozy independent children's bookstore threatened by a massive corporate competitor. To prepare for their roles, actresses Meg Ryan and Heather Burns spent a week working at a genuine Manhattan establishment called Books of Wonder. Opened in 1980 by Peter Glassman and James Carey, this real-life store originally showcased rare children's literature before expanding to include contemporary favorites and classic titles. The incredible success of the shop eventually allowed the founders to establish their own publishing imprint focused on bringing beautifully illustrated literary classics back to print.

"Open a book. Discover a world."

This episode includes AI-generated content.