A Bookstore with a Community Soul
Symposia Community Bookstore has always been more than shelves of books. Since opening on Washington Street in 2003, Symposia has been a place where books find new readers and neighbors find one another.
Children hear stories, artists share their work, volunteers keep the doors open, and people bring ideas to life.
Built through book donations, volunteer labor, and the love of the Hoboken community, Symposia continues to be a rare space where connection is still possible.
A nonprofit, donation-based, volunteer-run community bookstore in Hoboken since 2003.
A Look Back at Our Milestones
Before Symposia
Around 2000 a small Hoboken congregation wanted a bookstore carrying only religious books. The store opened on Willow Street in 2001, and Carmen and Cornel Rusu, recent immigrants from Romania, were hired to run it. Before long, they sensed the neighborhood was looking for something more than just religious books.
A new beginning
A couple of years later, Symposia Community Bookstore was born, a response to what Hoboken really wanted. With a dedicated group of volunteers, Carmen and Cornel reimagined the store entirely. They moved it to Washington Street, incorporated as a nonprofit, and opened the doors to books donated by the community.
A gathering place
On Washington Street, the new store flourished. The shelves filled with books of every kind, foot traffic grew, and the space came alive with events: art exhibitions, workshops, cultural celebrations, puppet shows, poetry, dance, and music. The books kept the lights on, but building community was always the real goal.
Symposia today
Many years later, Symposia is still thriving. It's a used bookstore, a literacy project, a volunteer-run gathering place, a cultural hub, and a home for new ideas, all at once. The book collection reflects what Hoboken is reading, a window into the soul of the city. It survives, as it always has, because the community makes it possible.
How Symposia Found Its Home
David Roberts owns our building on Washington Street. Since 2003 he gave us an affordable rent and kept it steady through the years. This is the reason a small nonprofit could survive on a main street in a town like ours.
In the image, Mayor David Roberts officiates the marriage of Chris and Debby, who met at one of our events. David has done more than keep our rent affordable. He and his family have stayed close to the store, advising us, celebrating our successes, and remaining on our side year after year.
Our Vision:
Symposia exists to make books and reading accessible to everyone, and to turn that shared love of books into something larger: a welcoming, independent space where neighbors meet, ideas move freely, and connection is still possible. We belong to no single belief or politics. We belong to the community.
Books for everyone
We keep reading inviting and affordable, giving donated books a second life and a new reader.
A place to gather
We offer room for conversation, learning, and community life, well beyond buying and selling books.
Support for good causes
We open our space to other nonprofits, helping them raise funds and run their programs.
A stage for local artists
We host exhibitions and projects that give emerging Hoboken artists a place to show their work.
Room for new ideas
We help neighbors turn an idea into a real event, even without experience or resources.
Stronger community ties
We build the everyday connections that make Hoboken feel less like a city and more like a neighborhood.
Get Involved with Our Community
Join us in making a difference. Whether you want to volunteer, attend events, or support our initiatives, there’s a place for you here. Together, we can create a vibrant community.