Over the weekend, one our county’s great bookstores called it quits after 19 years. Despite loyal customers, the down economy, rise of ebooks and a growing number of nearby big box stores (including a B&N) made it too difficult to go on.
The store held book signings, did new releases, hosted a monthly book group (which will continue), all the things great stores do, but that couldn’t reverse the current consumer trends.
It’s very sad, but people just don’t seem to realize the value of a bookstore for making friends with similar interests, discovering books they may never have hear of, or meeting authors and hearing them read their own works.
Honestly, facebook, google, and skype can’t compare. Unless you’re stuck on the International Space Station. However, to quote the upbeat Alan Chisholm, former store owner, “Life goes on!”
