Jul 27 2011
What Does Borders Liquidation Mean for Indie Bookstores?
A last-minute bid by Borders Group Inc to sell 30 of its bookstores and assets to Books-a-Million, has failed. Borders Books, the nation’s second largest book seller now faces the liquidation of its nearly 400 stores nationwide. Internationally, Borders operates more than 500 stores. The giant retailer announced Title 11 bankruptcy in February of this year. The fall of Borders raises questions about the future of print books, and the physical stores that sell them. The growing popularity of digital books, and the expansion of online retailers like Amazon.com, has made print and digital books almost instantly available to consumers through a few clicks online. What does this mean for independent booksellers? On the one hand, the imminent absence of a Borders store in a city can drive more business to existing independent bookstores. But on the other hand, publishers who are owed millions of dollars by the bankrupt chain, are likely to pressure indie bookstores to pay up their bills faster. Additionally, the same factors that potentially led to Borders’ closing, can impact independent booksellers. Here in Southern California, independent bookstores are a near-extinct breed, with beloved institutions like Midnight Special Books in Santa Monica having closed their shutters one after another over the past several years. One indie bookstore that has managed to survive for more than a 100 years is Vroman’s Books in Pasadena.
GUESTS: Alison Keyes, Assistant Promotional Director at Vroman’s bookstore, Andy Laties, author of Rebel Bookseller: How to Improvise Your Own Indie Store and Beat Back the Chains
Vroman’s Books is located at 695 E. Colorado Blvd Pasadena, CA 91101, and online at www.vromansbookstore.com.
Read Andy Laties’ work at www.rebel bookseller.com.
One Response to “What Does Borders Liquidation Mean for Indie Bookstores?”
Besides Midnight Special in Santa Monica, I miss Bungalow News, which used to be right across the street from Vroman’s, and Imix in Eagle Rock.
My great aunt went to Vromans as a child 100 years ago. She was quite a reader. I believe the original location was on Colorado Blvd. but east of the present location. My understanding is that Vromans moved to its current location in the early 1950s.
Another reason to visit Vromans (for males, anyway): their men’s room has waterless urinals. So if you’re passing through the area and have to go, save some water and stop at Vromans (men’s room, second floor near greetings cards).