Bookstores

The Seattle PI looks at the rash of store closings and tough retail environment, even in the highly-literate Seattle. It “has more bookstores per capita than any other city in the country, according to the “America’s Most Literate Cities” survey conducted by Jack Miller, president of Central Connecticut State University — 174 at last count. But running a bookstore has always been an occupation for dreamers, and area independent stores have had to confront the realities of wresting a living from a low-margin business in an increasingly expensive town.” More broadly, Miller notes that “not a single city in our […]

Waterstone’s will take over eight Books Etc stores in the London region after striking a deal with Borders, Books Etc’s parent company. The stores’ leases will be transferred from Books Etc to Waterstone’s, which has paid nothing for the sites. The branches that will be transferred are Fleet Street, London Wall, Holborn, Wandsworth, Uxbridge, Finchley and two sites in Canary Wharf.Bookseller

Barnes & Noble has been nominated as Motley Fool’s latest “Throw This Stock Away” candidate, saying “it’s hard to picture a superstore chain like B&N being more relevant in the future. The way we consume content is changing dramatically, and one only needs to look at something like the emptying bidding floor for rival Borders to realize that even bookworms aren’t coming around to save this tired niche,” says Rick Aristotle Munarriz. Specific slams include the lack of free wi-fi in stores, a “dud” fiscal first quarter, slow growth in online sales and even slower stock repurchases and the increased […]

After a two week campaign to raise money to save Decatur, GA-area bookstore Wordsmith Books from closing, owner Zachary Steele announced on the store’s blog yesterday that “we have raised enough capital to cover necessary operating expenses and give us a clear sight into the Fall.” In coming close to its $25,000 goal, Steele adds: “there is still much for us yet to do.  We have operating expenses caught up and have made some traction into tomorrow, but we will still be working on paying down our debts for the foreseeable future.” He’s also hoping to have investment in the […]

After 19 years, Transitions Bookstore & Cafe in Chicago has shut its doors. Owners Gayle Seminara-Mandel and Howard Mandel told the Chicago Tribune that they decided to close because they could no longer pay rent and meet payroll. “The readers went away,” Seminara-Mandel said, as more and more customers came for the free WiFi and fewer for the books.Chicago Tribune