From the article:
SAN FRANCISCO - Former bodyguard Alan Beatts took a big gamble by opening a bookstore at a time when chains like Borders and Barnes & Noble and Internet merchants like Amazon.com were claiming an ever-bigger share of the market. So Beatts decided to carve out a niche by specializing in the science fiction and horror books he'd always loved. It was a smart move. A decade later, his Borderlands Books is thriving in San Francisco's funky Mission District. He sets up tables at horror and science conventions, and the genres' authors stop by for readings and book signings. Most importantly, nine out of 10 customers don't just stop in for a quick paperback. They keep coming back. "They are very appreciative" Beatts said of his passionate customer base. He estimates he's seen double-digit growth in each year since Borderlands opened. "There's an assumption that we have something in common which doesn't exist in the general interest stores."Now, I'm actually a fan of Borders Books, but they also seriously depress me. When they came into town where I used to live, the best you could get was a Crown Books or B.Dalton Bookseller, both of which absolutely stink. But instead of killing off all the supid "I buy the important, topical ephemera-du-jour that make me look smart and sophisticated" and "yay for chick-lit! Melrose-Place means never having to think for myself!" bookstores, Borders and it's toxic cousin Barnes & Noble have been killing off all the really cool little independent bookstores instead. So now we've got a world with big soulless megastores where at least you can find Teilhard de-Chardin, and smaller franchise-shops not worth stepping into, but almost none of the high-touch places run by real booksellers (the kinds of people who can not only look at you and tell what kinds of books you like, but can also tell you seventeen other books you've never heard of by your favorite author's second cousin's wife's nephew's little brother and how those books fit into where the genre or sub-genre is heading, not to mention why they complement your favorite author's work so nicely). There's a reason that bookselling has always been the living example of oxymoronity: the prestigious minimum-wage job -- because it's important and can't be replaced by big chains (who seem to be strictly hiring bubblegum snapping teenagers who think they're "so above this" and can't wait until the get out of college so they can have "real jobs"). Perhaps genre-stores will be the last bastion that can remain sufficiently successful that booksellers won't go the way of the soda-jerk. I for one certainly hope so.
9 comments:
Ah, yes. "Genre" bookstores seem to be the way to go. There's a long-standing mystery/thriller/action-adventure bookstore across the street from SMU that I used to go to. Locally-owned, too. :-)
I love it when there's a little bit of press that doesn't predict ultimate doom and gloom for the independent bookstore, although it is rough out there. Still, after having worked as a bookseller for three independents (finally had to stop after almost 9 years - for me it's like putting a monkey to work in a banana shop), the only one that's still operating as a real independent is a genre store.
For anyone out there who has yet to have the genre store experience, go check out one that jives with your particular interest (Borderlands has sci-fi/fantasy/horror beat in SF, but there are stores for mystery, romance, even literary lit all over the place). The knowledgable and Interested staffs and huge, specific selections make it worth the extra effort.
And yes, I am massively and totally biased :)
I have to agree. Though I am a sucker for Barnes & Noble and the ability to just sit and drink a hot cuppa while plowing through a favorite book or mag, I love the charm of the older, independent bookstores. The musty smell and quiet peace when you walk through the door is something that can only be cherished by a true bookworm. Sadly, at least in Boston, there aren't too many places to go for said charm anymore thanks to B&N and Borders. Maybe in the suburbian towns, of which there are many, but not in the metropolis.
That's just so full of shit I don't know where to start. How 'bout you just go here instead: http://www.newenglandbooks.org/members_Boston.html.
Comin' on a little strong there Jimdesu?
No, seriously, I probably need to throw another hundred or so at Borderlands for more books. I liked most of their suggestions. Though I was definitely more "Use of Weapons" than "Souls in the Great Machine," but then again, that's probably not all that surprising.
Here, Half-Price books straddles the line between independent and uberchain. Their holdings are super-spotty (though their milhist is the size of the rest of their hist put together, which I appreciate), but you can go in and not bankrupt yourself. Otherwise, there are some independents, but you'd need to be genre to really do well.
Yeah; cranky was I. Situation discussed & resolved offline.
For what they carry, I like Half-Price books. But I haven't noticed their staff as being terribly knowledgeable. Perhaps as with their schtick as a "Remainders Are Us", they can't really help that....
No, they definitely can't: "knowledgeable" requires years in an industry and control over the inventory that comes in and out. With Half-Price, that's non-viable.
It *is* a place where a knowledgeable reader can occasionally pick up a real gem, otoh. For instance, I got "Love and Hate in Jamestown," which should be on any US History buff's bookshellf, for four bucks. That "garage sale" feel is TOTALLY different than shopping at Borderlands.
Though I don't think I've ever purchased a single work of fiction from them. Borderlands FAR superior in its specialty. Obviously.
I loved the place, and if my dad ever gets to SF he is going to go there and "buy it out" of stock(I'd like to see that attempt actually). Half-Price is one of those weird ones, pseudo chain kinda thing with a combo of "booksnobs" (college and grad elitists), 9 to 5'ers, and kids just doing the after school job thing. They at least don't have a buzzer on the door to keep out the "unwanted" like that socialist bookstore you showed me. There is a pretty good independent book store in Austin (name escapes me, its been 2 and 1/2 years since I was there), but I think it is beginning to slide down the "booksnob" path (we are independent so we are cutting edge even though our selection is getting more Barnes and Noble each day).
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