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2017-12-23T01:17:39Z

Created page with "{{header | title = {{q|Grand Opening & Reno Fundraiser}} | author = | override_author = Mike Mowbray | section = | previous = | next = | notes..."

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{{header
| title = {{q|Grand Opening & Reno Fundraiser}}
| author =
| override_author = Mike Mowbray
| section =
| previous =
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| notes = ''Columbia Journal'', July 2014, p. 13.
}}

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<font size="5"><div style="text-align:left">{{p|13}}''{{q|Grand Opening & Reno Fundraiser}}''<br>'''Spartacus Books commitment to keep up the struggle'''</div></font>

<div style="text-align:justify;">
'''''By Mike Mowbray'''''

{{tab}}{{q|Spartacus Books}} is a familiar name in Vancouver, especially amongst folks with radical or progressive political leanings and interests or affinities connected with a variety of social justice movements{{dash}}but the city{{s}} iconic radical book shop, resource centre, and social space now finds itself in a less familiar location. Having been forced out of its previous location at 684 E Hastings, Spartacus Books relocated to 3378 Findlay St, a former neighbourhood grocery in the Commercial Drive/Cedar Cottage area, at the end of May. The change of venue is only the most recent in a tumultuous decade for a radical institution that hopes to keep up the struggle through its fifth decade and beyond{{dash}}and mixed feelings arising from the circumstances of the move, Spartacus is enthusiastic about throwing open its doors once again in a new locale.

{{tab}}Spartacus Books has been a notable feature of the political landscape in Vancouver since 1973. Founded and operated in its earliest years by a group with an eclectic mix of anarchist, Trotskyist, Maoist, and otherwise heterodox leanings, Spartacus Books has roots that trail deep into the past of radical social movements in this city. Coming down off the hill at SFU at the beginning, the store has long sought to be an active force in support of social struggle, furnishing the kinds of explosive titles that set a spark in reader{{s|r}} thinking and propel movements forward.

{{tab}}Spartacus continues to this day to operate as a nonsectarian radical bookstore, resource centre, and social space{{dash}}completely volunteer-<wbr>run, non-<wbr>profit, and collectively managed by the same people you see behind the counter. The collecti e seeks to maintain a safe and welcoming space for all, and to stock a wide-<wbr>ranging collection of titles{{dash|not just books, but zines, periodicals, and other info material}}that spans the range of radical struggles, movements, and identities. Many of the titles from small independent publishers simply don{{t}} turn up on shelves anywhere else.

{{tab}}In the past decade, Spartacus has persisted through more than its fair share of adversity, including a 2004 fire that razed the long-<wbr>time Victory square location; the store{{s}} entire stock, uninsured against fire after a hefty recent rate hike made maintaining a prior policy unsustainable, went up with it{{dash}}along with a great deal of history. Despite an outpouring of support, in the form of cash donations, used book dropoffs, volunteer efforts and word-<wbr>of-<wbr>mouth publicity that enabled re-<wbr>opening in short order, available resources couldn{{t}} keep the store in the post-<wbr>fire location next to the burned-<wbr>out remains of the old one in the face of a tidal wave of gentrification then sweeping through that part of the Hastings corridor.

{{tab}}At the 684 E Hastings, selected as a more affordable alternative to the outpriced location near Victory Square, Spartacus continued to be dogged by insecurity. Not long after moving in, the entire block was slated for demolition to make room for the new East End library{{dash}}a plan that was eventually scuttled by broad-<wbr>based opposition to the choice of site. Murmurings amongst the movement that saved the Heatley block from demolition about turning the building into a shared-<wbr>equity cooperative fell through, and management of the property by the city and by Atira gave way to new owners. Soon after, Spartacus received an eviction notice stating the landlord{{s|r}} intention to renovate the property, marking the store as one amongst a shocking array of non-<wbr>profit community spaces falling prey to gentrification and {{q|renoviction}} in Vancouver.

{{tab}}In a testament to the tenacity and volume of the communities that share ties to Spartacus, popular anger and bad publicity got that initial eviction notice rescinded. At the time, it was reported that the new owners, told collective members that {{qq|they weren{{t}} expecting such a fuss and were just looking to run a {{q|nice place}}.}} Rabble.ca called Spartacu{{s|r}} {{q|uneviction}} following the renoviction saga {{q|miraculous}} back in 2013, but it was a temporary respite. In the end, the wave of gentrification caught up with Spartacus, as it has{{dash|with much more profound consequences, at level even of sustenance and survival}}with so many area residents.

{{tab}}Months later, it became clear that plans to renovate and raise rents were merely put on pause in response to community reaction. Running a {{q|nice place}} apparently means administering a fresh row of storefronts housing businesses of a different character than those there before. The landlords soon made clear that Spartacus Books had no place in their plans for the building. Inquiries about staying on at a much-<wbr>raised asking rate met a crystal-<wbr>clear response: the landlords wanted Spartacus gone.

{{tab}}After a frustrating search for new accommodations (a tough go in a city where small commercial spaces with even a hint of centrality routinely command several thousand dollars a month), the Spartacus collective settled on the new Findlay St location at Commercial & 18th{{dash}}a larger space, albeit at significantly higher cost, and at a significant distance from the store{{s}} longtime neighbourhood.

{{tab}}Folks in the collective met the prospect of a move away from the DTES with profoundly mixed feelings. The neighbourhood had been Spartacu{{s|r}} home for over 40 years, and a place in which the space and the collective had developed numerous ties of solidarity, amd molded itself in small but significant ways to fit the needs of local residents{{dash}}free public-<wbr>access computers, the {{q|Peoples Phone}} in operation 24/7 outside for the use of those without access to a phone line, an accessible washroom without the locked door typical of most businesses, and an open and welcoming attitude.

{{tab}}While folks are both relieved that the 41st year of Spartacu{{s|r}} operations will not be its last and excited at the bubbling potential of the new space, the move{{dash|so clearly connected with the gentrification of the city{{s}} last neighbourhood affordable to poor folks}}also gave rise to sadness, anger, a sense of loss and a commitment to keep up the struggle against gentrification from the new location.

{{tab}}After a marathon one-<wbr>day move in late May, with a mob of volunteers sharing the load, collective members have been hard at work putting things together at the new space{{dash}}and it{{s}} really coming together. One of the most prominent features of the new space is its greater capacity to accommodate events from movie screenings, readings and musical performances to organizing meetings, talks, book clubs and more{{dash}}and folks hope to be able to make good use of that in ways that make an easy-<wbr>to-<wbr>get to (if somewhat out-<wbr>of-<wbr>the-<wbr>way) location a bustling destination.

{{tab}}With the books shelved, a comfy new lounge area set up for folks to peruse their finds, socialize, talk shop and organize, and several decade{{s|r}} activist history livening up the previously bare white walls of the new digs, Spartacus looks forward to welcoming familiar faces and new ones at the new location. Any day of the week is a good time to stop by{{dash}}but July 12th is a date of note, as the store will be hosting a {{q|Grand Opening & Reno Fundraiser}} from 10am to 1pm at 3378 Findlay St, including a range of activities for folks of all ages, musical jam, Sparty info table, cheap books … and the unveiling of a brand new sign to announce Spartacus Book{{s|r}} familiar name to a soon-<wbr>to-<wbr>be-<wbr>familiar locale.</div>

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