Los Angeles

Independent Bookstores are Dependent on Community Support

Last month, a New York Times article noted that for an independent bookstore to survive, it had to offer more than books and have community buy-in.  Most successful independent bookstores, “whether explicitly or implicitly, have managed to get across the message that we need you, but you need us: A community that wants a vibrant downtown with a local bookstore that’s about books, and about something more as well, needs to support it.”  Keying off this article, I wrote about unique activities I’ve noticed in bookstores.  (Last week, Stories Bookstore and Cafe in LA announced that they have a bibliophile knitting group meeting there on Fridays.)  But, I also found several communities and bookstores working together to support the stores that enhance the community:

• Capitola Book Cafein Capitola, CA started “Friends of Book Cafe,” a membership program with levels from $25 to over $200, each level receiving various benefits such as discounts on books, free coffee and tickets to events.  In a recent Central Coast article, co-owner Mayer-Lochtefeld said “if we can’t really rally our customers around us, then the store is absolutely at risk.”
• Devoted fans of Village Books in Pacific Palisades, CA founded “Palisades Village Book Friends,” a non-profit to help the bookstore provide weekly author readings, act as host for other literary events and as a liaison with the local schools. 
• Forest City, NC bent over backwards to make Fireside Books and Gifts welcome.  Shelf Awareness reported that the city closed an alleyway and redirected traffic from a drive thru pharmacy so the store can have an outdoor patio and event space, then provided an underground power line, utility hook ups, tax incentives and free advertising in the local tourism brochures.
• Communication!  Linda Ramsdell of Galaxy Bookshop in Hardwich, VT informed her customers in an e-mail newsletter of her stocking strategy before she sent back a large number of returns.  She wanted her customers to know that she was going to survive and how.  As odd as it seems, not all customers fully understand the implications of buying on Amazon or at a big box. 
• In an effort to get the message out, Indiebound encourages independent business of all types, but especially bookstores, to band together and help each other out.  Several independent bookstores have joined with other businesses to offer joint coupons and discounts to encourage shopping from neighbors.
• Local citizens rallied to keep Clear Creek Books of Golden, CO open.  After hearing it was having trouble paying the rent, several local residents gave the owner, Craig Johnson, money to survive.  One resident wrote a check for $20,000.

On our Unique page, we’ve noted instances and practices of bookstores we’ve reviewed that benefit the community.  I almost always ask any independent bookstore I’m visiting how business is going.  Many times, it’s going just fine and when I ask how, the universal answer is “our community supports us.”