Today’s MUSING MONDAYS post is about bookstores…
How many bookstores do you frequent? Do you have a favourite? If so, which one and what makes it so?
Truthfully I shop mostly online now between Chapters and Amazon. However I do have a favorite bookstore. It’s called Coles and unfortunately it’s said to be closing this year in favor of the bigger chain bookstore Chapters. I’ve been going to Coles for years. It’s in a neighborhood mall and it’s on the smaller side yet I’ve always found it to be well stocked and fun to browse around in. These days I will go in just to browse and pick up on the ambience. If I find something I like I usually write it down to order from home although sometimes I can’t help myself and do come home with a few books. They also have a great staff always willing to help you find something or suggest something new if you want. I’ll really miss it when it closes.
How about you? Do you have a favorite bookstore or have you gone the way of the Internet too and shop online?
I still love the Half Price Book store in my neighborhood and I go there more often than the big chains. Powell’s in Oregon has to be my favorite store of all time. 🙂
Awh.. Dar.. that is sad that it is closing. It reminds me of the “Shop Around the Corner.” In You’ve got mail. Sigh.. I need to watch that movie again.. ‘Tis a favorite.
I think my favorite book store is the library..for selfish reasons..when I see it on the shelf.. I know I can get it NOW and FREE.
Happy Monday.
They have closed a lot of the smaller and independent bookstores in my area. I have Barnes & Noble right downstairs and Borders a short walk away. I find a loot of my books on Amazon or bookfinder.com.
I am mostly an online shopper, but I still love to drop into a Borders or a Barnes & Noble to just browse. I love the smell of books so I like to just walk along the aisles and touch the spines and glance inside a book or two. It's therapeutic – I swear.
Hi Dar,
I love bookstores! I can spend two hrs. in Barnes and Noble anytime. We also have a small used bookstore in the next town (Barnes and Noble is 1/2 hr. away). I like going there to look, but… the problem is that it is expensive! It is really sad, but I can get books a lot cheaper on sale at B & N. So why would I want to buy a used book for more? I am all for supporting the little local guy but really! I usually only buy books there that I don't think I will find at B & N. I also am a frequent visitor of our library (several times a week).
I have brought this up on numerous radio programs that the main large book stores are now more like warehouses. In with a book keep two weeks then send what does not sell back for credits. Luckily there are still some book shops that care and help a person looking for a book, but not many.
More and more people just purchase on line.
Storyheart (Barry)
Across the Pond
http://acrossthepond-storyheart.blogspot.com/
http://across-t-pond.com
I used to vacation a lot in Conway, New Hampshire and there was a bookstore there that I loved called the local bookie. It was the cutest store and the owners were charming. I haven’t found anything like that around here in Arizona. For us it is usually Hastings (they have used books as well as new) or Barnes and Noble. 🙂
I do quite a bit of shopping online, but I’m still loyal to my local Borders! I’ve worked there part-time for several years and love to go in and wander around. Of course, I usually wind up taking home too many books… but at least I have coupons! 🙂
The problem is, now can a brick and mortar store, especially a small one, compete with the online shopping and their lower prices and free shipping.
I think it is doable but hard.
Like you, I do a lot of my book buying online. I do have a favorite used bookstore that I use when looking for a book that’s been out for awhile. There’s only one indie bookstore in my town that just opened up and I’m going there this weekend! Yay!
I find the salespeople at Chapters are always very nice and helpful. But, I do have a preference for this wonderful used bookstore, “Book-tique”. It has wonderful classics and very old volumes that I collect. I’ve found the rarest gens in there.
thats sad about your fav book store closing.
its always fun to just browse and relax at my fav bookstore, Borders.
http://thebookworm07.blogspot.com/
I always feel sad whenever a bookstore is closing, so I can understand how you’re feeling… especially if it’s one of our favourite stores.
I love shopping online too, but I only buy shop online when I can’t find the books from the bookstores, or some out-of-print ones.
Chapters owns Coles Dar.
I hardly buy books but even I do buy them, I just go online and buy it from either
Amazon/Borders/B&N. I am trying to change my shopping habits and find independant bookstores in my area.. I am hating the fact that so many of them are closing!
I usually only buy newer books (the rest I get from the library) so I just get them from Walmart or Waldenbooks. I love to order from online too but that’s a treat so I don’t do it very often.
We don’t have Chapters down here but I did visit when I was in Toronto last summer. We have a used bookstore chain down here (Half Price Books) that I LOVE!! If I’m looking for something specific I order online since it is sometimes hard to find specific books at the used store–otherwise, I love browsing!
Karen, unfortunately we don’t have a Powells here but I hear it’s great.
Toni, you have a point but there’s nothing like a new book smell.
kalea kane, that bookstore sounds so charming. That’s exactly what I’d love to have here.
Ms Lucy, Book-tique. How quaint is that. I bet I’d love it too.
Luanne, I know Chapters owns Coles but the Coles stores are so much homier I think.
Everyone else, thanks so much for your comments this week!