The founder and owner of the West Hollywood independent bookstore Book Soup Glen Goldman died on Saturday at 58 of pancreatic cancer. Goldman founded the store in 1975. LAT book editor David Ulin posted a personal remembrance on the book section’s blog. Separately, LA Observed reported right before Goldman’s death that “staffers and friends of Sunset Strip fixture Book Soup are contacting potential buyers.” They add that, “judging by emails circulating in L.A. book circles, the search has become urgent in recent days.” The LAT’s obituary reports that Goldman decided to sell the store on Friday. But Book Soup general […]
Independent
Sharing the Stories of Struggling Bookstores
Owners of Washington, DC-area Vertigo Books are struggling to stay in business and last month they told customers the store was “at risk.” Co-owner Bridget Warren says, “It was a combination of the economy and Internet sales.” Husband Todd Stewart adds, “It’s been a bad year all year, but come September….” The Washington Post looks at their efforts against the backdrop of the many Washington, DC indies that have gone out of business in recent years. It’s also framed against a recent screening at Vertigo of producer-director Alex Beckstead’s movie Paperback Dreams, which follows the fate of Kepler’s and Cody’s […]
Vroman's Backs Off Expansion Plan
Pasadena’s Vroman’s Bookstore has cancelled plans to purchase a newly-renovated building in Old Town Monrovia for a new store. Vroman’s president Joel Sheldon said in a statement “the more recent economic conditions and variances have caused our board of directors to adopt a more conservative approach regarding expansion at this timePasadena Star
Atlanta-Area Bookstore Faces Closure
Wordsmiths Books in Decatur “is just two weeks away from possible closure” according to marketing director Russ Marshalek, and is having a benefit this weekend to raise funds. Owner Zachary Steele says they suffer from an event with a well-known author “that required a massive up-front investment that didn’t pan out” as well as debt from the higher rent at their previous location. “The reality of Wordsmiths is that, though it began with a great push, it did so in the wrong location. That location drained its resources and left a lagging parachute of debt that we have been trying […]
Downtown Bakersfield Store to Close
Russo’s Books will close their downtown Bakersfield bookstore after 12 years, continuing to operate their two other larger mall-based locations. Owner Michael Russo tells the local paper, “The economy is slow and there just wasn’t enough business to continue operating all three, especially when two of them were just three and a half miles apart.”Bakersfield Californian
Ann Nelson on Bunch of Grapes Fire
The former owner who built the Martha’s Vineyard bookstore (now run by her son) writes in the MV newspaper about her experiences on July 4th: “John said, I’m going to take you into the building, here is your flashlight. And when I walked into the building wearing that heavy fireman’s suit — so heavy and they wear it all day! — I cannot tell you, the flashbacks of 35 years. And I cannot adequately describe the heat. It was like you were at a barbecue and someone had lit the briquettes right under you. It was so hot, the ceiling […]