Írók Boltja Kft., Budapest

At the beginning of 19th century, Café Japan became one of the most popular and famous gathering places for artists and writers in Budapest. From the mid-1950s, Írók Boltja (the Writers' Bookshop) has occupied the place that was once Café Japan. The bookshop's first and foremost goal is to showcase, represent and distribute contemporary and classic Hungarian literature in its entirety. Besides literature, the store offers a great selection of Hungarian and foreign publications on literary theory, philosophy, social science, art books, art magazines and periodicals in different languages, and also dictionaries and encyclopedias. The shop's professional staff is there to dispense advice and a computer database is also available. Írók Boltja is well known for its unique window showcase that displays individual books and promotes cultural events on a regular basis. Conjuring up the original atmosphere and cultural role of Café Japan, an intimate teahouse operates inside the store where the costumers can freely read. Regularly held book launches, literary events and writer-reader meetings also take place in the teahouse.