Comments on: What If Your Local Bookstore Went Away?

By: Michael

Michael — Mon, 06 Apr 2009 12:32:54 +0000

Jody-

I LOVE that your version of the real estate adage “location, location, location” translated to “near a great bookstore, near a great bookstore, near a great bookstore!”

By: Jody Perlmutter

Jody Perlmutter — Mon, 06 Apr 2009 03:37:49 +0000

One of the main reasons we bought a condo where we did(Pasadena,CA) was the location: behind Vroman’s bookstore. They even have a little coffee shop attached to it. If they left, we certainly wouldn’t plan a future here. My only complaint is that they close way too early.

By: Tanya

Tanya — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 23:13:37 +0000

The indie book shops and used book dealers have been shutting down in my area, some after 50 years of service. Interestingly, one bookshop now exists only as an online vendor and does very nicely at that! However, I miss the “treasure hunt” of browsing through stacks and the booksellers who can provide “concierge” service (i.e. putting aside books they think you’ll like.) I currently scour book exchanges, flea markets and yard sales, hoarding books like survivalists cache food and water!

By: Suzanne

Suzanne — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 18:14:41 +0000

…. I wish I had a local bookstore.

By: sally

sally — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 17:36:23 +0000

Hurray! You have some excellent points here – one thing I do know is though, the old-style bookshops still need to adapt to survive…that is a simple fact of life! Just in the same way that sites like gurgle adapted to the new internet world, so should bookshops…it’s vital I’m afraid.

By: Michael

Michael — Fri, 27 Mar 2009 20:28:16 +0000

absolutely Susan!

By: Susan

Susan — Fri, 27 Mar 2009 19:02:48 +0000

Thank you, thank you, thank you for this eloquent defense of local bookstores!

I love our customers, but the reality that they need to shop us for all their book needs in order for us to stay in business seems to elude many of them.

May we reproduce this on our website??