Home › Forums › Open Discussion › Where have all the independent bookstores gone???
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November 2, 2009 at 6:26 pm #592872
DianeParticipantBailey Coy Books says goodbye, to close shop at end of month
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November 2, 2009 at 7:12 pm #681497
FullTiltParticipantAmazon and Barnes and Noble. Before opening an ice cream shop, I had toyed with the idea of opening a bookstore. I have a friend that owns Arundel books downtown, and he pretty much told me to not waste my money.
This is what happens when we shop for the lowest price. Small bookstores can not compete with Amazon, Costco, and B&N. An independent bookseller pays more wholesale than Costco sales the book retail for. Small booksellers have become something that have to be supported if we want them to be around in the next couple of years.
November 2, 2009 at 7:20 pm #681498
luckymom30ParticipantWe loved going to Hullabaloo Books in the Admiral district, great memories of story time with our daughter. Really sad they had to close.
November 2, 2009 at 7:24 pm #681499
WSBKeymasterWest Seattle has an independent bookstore, if you were not aware – actually more than one, but this is the only one that deals exclusively in new books: Square 1 Books in Jefferson Square (a WSB sponsor). If you would like to support independent booksellers, please go visit.
http://square1books.blogspot.com/
Open till 6 pm today.
November 2, 2009 at 7:57 pm #681500
DianeParticipantyes, LOVED Hullabaloo; wonderful store and fantastic place to meet up with other parents; still very much missed
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btw, one of the owners is still in WS and now mom to 2 kidlets
November 2, 2009 at 8:01 pm #681501
DianeParticipantsome memories of Bailey Coy Books; when I first moved to Seattle in 98; got to meet Chastity (now Chaz) and Ellen’s mom, among many others; Bailey Coy also a wonderful store and fantastic place to meet up with others in community; such a loss
November 2, 2009 at 8:04 pm #681502
DianeParticipantmy absolute favorite, ultimate best bookstore in Seattle, Elliott Bay Books; very sad to hear they may either move to Cap Hill or close
November 2, 2009 at 8:32 pm #681503
dhgParticipantWe were window shopping at Square1 early one morning (shop not open) and this guy comes by and points out the book in the window about a military ship. He was on that ship and he was listed in the book. Always nice to have the local touch.
November 2, 2009 at 8:42 pm #681504
LindseyParticipantYou can pretty much put anything in that “Small _________ can not compete with Amazon, Costco, and” Best Buy, Walmart, etc. since Amazon and Costco sell darn near everything. It’s too bad. If we don’t shop local, we won’t have a choice anymore.
November 2, 2009 at 9:07 pm #681505
JoBParticipantif we don’t support local businesses, they won’t be there next time we want them..
November 3, 2009 at 12:34 am #681506
ellenaterMemberI’d like to add that Square One is a great bookstore. I detest Jeff. Square but will go for them. They always have what the little dude needs and I always find good stuff there, too. The employees are helpful but not in your face.
November 3, 2009 at 12:44 am #681507
JenVMemberfor everyone grousing about Amazon: Please remember they’re also a local employer, albeit not a small one – but they do keep plenty of your friends and neighbors employed!
November 3, 2009 at 12:58 am #681508
LindseyParticipantI know, I know… I just hope they have a job for me when my employer is forced to close up shop because of online retailers. It’s not Amazon I abhor, but people who come into our shop, suck up our expertise for two and half hours, then leave to buy their XXX online. “I bought this XXX on whateverscheapest.com, can you help me figure it out?”
November 3, 2009 at 3:59 am #681509
DBurnsParticipantI mostly miss the smell of a good old bookstore.
November 3, 2009 at 4:15 am #681510
jamminjMemberok, call me ignorant.. but what does a small independent book store offer that something like B&N doesn’t?
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Usually when I go into a book store, i know what I want. Is it the atmosphere of a small store?
November 3, 2009 at 5:11 am #681511
DianeParticipanthow did “small” get attached to “independent book store”?
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sure, any brick & mortar is small compared to Amazon, but…..
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Elliott Bay Books is not small; it’s huge, beautifully laid out; they have fantastic author events all throughout the month; it’s in gorgeous historic setting, smells wonderful; and fabulous café attached; all much better than B & N
November 3, 2009 at 5:39 am #681512
FullTiltParticipantok, call me ignorant.. but what does a small independent book store offer that something like B&N doesn’t?
Character and used books. Don’t get me wrong, I am at B&N at least once a week. It often has what I need. At Elliot Bay and Co, I never get pressured into buying a damm member card, most of the people working there know my name, it has creaky wood floors, and most importantly it has books and magazines that amazon and the larger chains just are not going to carry.
As far as Amazon goes, they are a wonderful local company. The employ a lot of my friends, and even I worked there for a short stint. I don’t buy books from them though. I buy electronics, and odd items that I can not find locally, but not books. Amazon also has a feature that actually helps a lot of indy books sellers. Most of the used books listed on amazon are from actual brick and mortar stores that sell through Amazon.
Also, shopping at a local, independent store keeps your money in the neighborhood.
November 3, 2009 at 4:20 pm #681513
JoBParticipantjmminj…
an independent bookstore offers the mystery of the unopened title, employees who are passionate about books and some of the best book clubs i have ever attended.
i can get weak in the knees at the prospect of visiting some of my favorite independents…
but we also use Amazon for used books we can’t find at our local independent… Hubby covets his reviewer ranking and regularly reinforces it:)
and the library.
we no longer cart around thousands of books with every move… i confess i miss them:(
November 3, 2009 at 5:05 pm #681514
RainyDay1235MemberPegasus Pegasus Pegasus
Every time I go there I not only have a table of great $2 books to chose from, but great advice from the owner. He helps me choose (non “Oprah”) book club choices…and personal recommendations based on past choices or my mood that day. I also get credit for my returns (1/2 off!). Last time I was even short a few bucks and he just credited it against my punch card for next time. You don’t get that service at B&N…
November 3, 2009 at 6:57 pm #681515
flowerpetalMemberWhen I was in high school and trying to figure out who I was; and being moody; and skipping classes; I would go hang out at an independent bookstore. The store was operated by two elderly women or their three bookstore cats (I’m unsure who was in charge!)
I learned in part through those visits, what community was. It was like going to a community center for me. At the time I hadn’t figured out that the women were a couple, had been for years, and lived out their lives at that store welcoming people and serving tea (and an ear).
November 3, 2009 at 7:06 pm #681516
JenVMemberI have been going to Pegasus since I was in my early 20’s, or maybe even before that. I should ask them how far back my index card goes. That place is the best. I have never seen before someone who knows exactly what book is in stock, what it’s about and if it’s worth it for me to buy.
November 3, 2009 at 7:08 pm #681517
sam-cParticipantElliott Bay Books also host so many amazing authors and other people for speaking engagements. certainly can’t get that at Amazon.
November 3, 2009 at 7:35 pm #681518
dawsonctParticipantWhenever I walk through the Jct. I stop at our two used book stores (funny I have never bothered to pay attention to the name of their businesses) and browse for new titles in my areas of interest. They are invaluable for impulse purchases, but if I’m looking for a specific title I like using Amazon for used books, and always purchase the ones sold by independent book stores. The quality has always been there, and the price is right, usually no more than half the retail price. Seems to be a pretty handy service that helps independents continue to stay in business. I imagine there is some sort of service fee they pay to Amazon, but if some shop in Little Rock is flipping part of their inventory to someone in Seattle who will probably never set foot in their store, I’m sure they aren’t complaining.
November 3, 2009 at 8:12 pm #681519
AlkiRagdollParticipantI have to post a note about Square One — it is a fabulous store, thanks to Charlotte and now Gretchen. I will not shop B&N, but have done Amazon, when needed. I second the theme – I have always gotten what I was looking for, plus solid recommendations on books from the staff at Square One. They know authors, publishers, and read what is in their store, not just paid employees. I cant say that about my experiences with B&N — there staff rarely knows the name of books – they only know where the sections are on the designated topics. While I love Elliott Bay — I always try to remember to avoid chains and to shop West Seattle…. othewise we will loose the great family shops that we have.
November 3, 2009 at 9:20 pm #681520
DianeParticipantElliott Bay is not a chain, and Pioneer Sq is another beloved Seattle neighborhood that is on the verge of dying if Seattlites do not support
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