La Paranthese, the second oldest comic bookstore in France, celebrates its 50th anniversary

Just last week, a crowd of aficionados flocked to his door to meet Riad Sattouf and obtain his latest title, Me, Fadi, the stolen brother (Books of the future). The routine for the Nancy bookstore La Parenthese, where all the big names in comics,Emile Bravo has Travelstopped. Founded in 1974 by a couple of comic fans, Jacques Pierre et Luce Vincentthe brand is the second oldest comic bookstore in France.

“At the time, we had to fight for comics to be considered as an art in their own right,” reminds Stéphane Godefroid, at the head of the bookstore since 2010 with his partner, Mirko Claudot. From now on, the two collaborators are delighted to be able to celebrate the half-century of existence of this 9th art institution. And to mark the occasion, Saturday November 9, during a day punctuated by various activities and the arrival of the seven authors Romain Dutreix, Thierry Martin, Baru, Benoubut also Jeff Pourquié, Thibaud de Rochebrune et Laetitia Coryn. To thank its loyal customers, the bookstore team, numbering seven employees, also plans to offer the book La Parenthesis, 50 years of comics, specially designed for the occasion.

Pioneer of the 9th art

It must be said that at number 19 of the Cour des Arts, where the bookstore permanently took up residence in 1989 after two moves, the choice is vast. From comics to Franco-Belgian to graphic novels, more than 15,000 references adorn the shelves, spread over 300 m² surface. “The founders wanted to distribute everything that could not be found in traditional bookstores, such as fanzines or titles from small publishers. La Parenthese became the leading seller of Futuropolis editions, for example”details Stéphane Godefroid.

A short distance away, a second address, opened in 2005, Atout Manga, constitutes a branch to complete the initial offer of some 5,000 Japanese references. Further proof, if any were needed, of the brand's pioneering spirit. But while the book world is constantly worried about the future of independent bookstores, how has La Parenthese managed to reach the canonical age of 50 years?

True to herself

“We must remember that the law of one price did not exist in the early years of bookselling. Moreover, at the beginning of the 1980s, Fnac set up shop nearby and did a lot of damage to commerce. The booksellers of the time did not get paid for two years! “, remembers the owner of the store. Despite difficult initial times, La Parenthesis was still able to stand up to the behemoths in the sector, thereby integrating the Canal BD network of independent bookstores. Above all, it has never strayed from its original DNA.

« We have remained activists since we are still a fund library. This is a practice that goes against the common maneuvers of our competitors, where profitability focuses almost exclusively on new products. specifies Stéphane Godefroid. Even today, the bookstore conceals a number of treasures, including The Angelus published by Dupuis or the fable of Martin Veyron at Dargaud, which have become almost impossible to find in most other points of sale. Which does not fail to make the bookseller proud: « Where a title will stay 15 days in Paris, ours can stay three months, even a year. After all, as a big independent, you do what you want.”