Our local bookstore is closing. I knew this sad event was taking place, but an e-mail from the bookstore’s national corporation in my inbox this morning simply made it more real. Ten days from today and the bookstore will be another empty storefront in a mall that is steadily declining into a massive building of empty storefronts.
After the holidays, an article in the newspaper announced the closing of two stores in our mall–a Hallmark store and the local bookstore, so this morning’s e-mail wasn’t a shock, but it brings about a sadness that’s hard to explain to others. The bookstore, part of a national chain, has been a part of our mall, our community for the past twenty-five years or so.
From the time I learned to read, libraries and bookstores have been two of my favorite places to hang out. When Hubby and I travel to one of the larger cities in our area, I look forward to stopping at bookstores that house coffee cafes in the corner of their stores. Do they realize how fortunate they are to have a tome lover’s paradise within their four walls?
After January 10th, our closest bookstore will be 40 minutes away. We can order online through Christian Book Distributors, Amazon, Barnes & Noble, but it’s not the same. There’s something magical about walking into a bookstore and viewing the shelves and shelves of books waiting to be purchased. The smell of the paper, the feel of the embossed letter on the covers, flipping through the pages, reading the back cover blurb. You lose that experience when ordering online.
As a writer, I dreamed of doing a book signing at my local bookstore. I dreamed of walking into the store that has been a silent friend over the years, going to the Christian fiction shelves, and seeing my published novel alongside authors’ books whom I have read and admired.
During this morning’s devotional time, I read a verse that spoke to my heart:
Proverbs 16:9
So, due to a drop in consumer demographics, the bookstore is closing. Yes, I’ll miss the ability to wander the shelves in search of that book that makes me want to curl up in my chair and get lost in its pages. However, God will direct my steps as far as where my future published novels will be signed.
Goodbye, old friend. You will be missed.
Hi Lisa! I didn't know you were a blogger. Thanks for stopping by mine. I'll link to you when I get a minute. You can come browse at my favorite book place, The Book Barn. It's a massive "barn" plus a smattering of various out-buildings crammed full of used and antique books. There are free-roaming cats and free coffee. So cool (Main Street- Niantic, CT). You can't smell the books in a catalogue, can you?
There are some big book stores closing that have made national news recently. The competition from online and volume stores is too much, just like Callahan's Hardware didn't make it soon after Wal-Mart and Home Depot hit the scene.
The good thing about entrepreneurs, though, is they can take a lesson from what's happened and go on in a different direction…sometimes.
Check out Bill Mumy's songs at Mumy's MySpace about just such closings: Free Parking and Cherokee Books are the cases in point. They really hit home.
I'm sorry to hear this, maybe it is your calling to open a small store.