News

Barricade Moves to Jersey, Awaits Appeal Ruling
Calvin Reid -- 10/16/00

Citing the rising cost of office space in Manhattan, maverick indie book publisher Lyle Stuart has moved his firm, Barricade Books, to new offices in Fort Lee, N.J.

Stuart told PW the rent on his former space on Fifth Avenue at 20th Street had increased 50% and pushed him across the Hudson River. "Now we've got more usable space for half the money, and a great view of the George Washington Bridge," said Stuart.

In other developments at Barricade, Stuart continues to wait for a ruling on his appeal to the Nevada State Supreme Court to overturn a $3-million 1998 libel judgment against him, won by Las Vegas casino owner Steve Wynn. Wynn sued Stuart and Barricade Books over an allegedly libelous item in BB's catalogue copy for the book Running Scared: The Life and Treacherous Times of Las Vegas Casino King Steve Wynn by John L. Smith.

Stuart told PW that he expected a ruling in the case soon. And once again he vowed to relaunch Barricade Books under another name (Barracuda Books, said Stuart) if he loses the appeal. "We'll go all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court if we have to," said Stuart. He has also made sure that his remaining assets are secure from seizure. Barricade, he said, is leasing the new office space from Carol Stuart, who happens to be his wife.

Bender to N.J.
Barricade is the third New York City publisher to pull up stakes recently for the Garden State. Earlier this year, Wiley said it will be moving to Hoboken in 2002 (News, Aug. 14), and several weeks ago, Matthew Bender announced it plans to leave its New York City headquarters for offices in Newark. The legal publisher, which has 250 people in New York, expects to complete the move by spring.