Bad News on the Independent Bookstore Front
Janna Silverstein forwards news that one venerable Seattle-area independent bookstore is closing, and another is going to have to leave its current location.
Bailey-Coy Books is the one that's closing, and the excellent Elliott Bay Book Company is considering a move, ironically, to the same neighborhood.
The bad economy is partially to blame. Lack of parking certainly hurts Elliott Bay. But both have been hurt a lot more by the availability of books at big box retailers and at Amazon. In a just world there would be room for all, but independent booksellers just can't compete with stores that mark books down so much as loss leaders. The biggest thing I'll miss is another venue for writers to read their work. I went to quite a few readings at Elliott Bay, and have little faith that a move to Capitol Hill will be beneficial for their bottom line.
Bailey-Coy Books is the one that's closing, and the excellent Elliott Bay Book Company is considering a move, ironically, to the same neighborhood.
The bad economy is partially to blame. Lack of parking certainly hurts Elliott Bay. But both have been hurt a lot more by the availability of books at big box retailers and at Amazon. In a just world there would be room for all, but independent booksellers just can't compete with stores that mark books down so much as loss leaders. The biggest thing I'll miss is another venue for writers to read their work. I went to quite a few readings at Elliott Bay, and have little faith that a move to Capitol Hill will be beneficial for their bottom line.