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Borders closing its doors

#64
...dunno about where you guys live, but in my neck of the woods, on the right street, every third or fourth shop is an indie bookstore/rare book store, indie music shop/used music shop, vintage clothes shop, etc...

Say what you like about hipsters (and I do, often and loudly), I have to give them credit for keeping this sort of industry alive. Even if they don't read the books or actually listen to the music, or even look good in the clothes; I do, I do, and I do (and I'm the furthest thing from a hipster there is - hipsters don't play sax, everybody knows that!), and I appreciate that the stores still exist.

Even if it is some snooty hipster girl with the latest trendy tattoos behind the counter.
 
#65
NateS said:
i don't know about where you at but indie music and book stores are doing pretty well in downtown Richmond, VA, especially with VCU art/hipster kids. I don't mind the hipsters as long as i can still browse vinyls and books.
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Yup, here in wichita we've got multiple indie record shops and book stores. In fact, there are more of them now than I remember there ever being since I was old enough to pay attention to that sort of thing (mid 90s).
 
#68
There seems to be a ton of used book stores thriving here and a few good indie stores selling both used and new. I haven't been into a Border's in a long time when I can get the same book for pretty much the same price from the indie store or even used somewhere else.
 
#69
Are any of the locales that are claiming tons of mom and pop indie style shops big metro areas (that are easily exploited by huge stores), OR, are they little nook towns that can sustain such small shops and thrive within smaller communites / college areas?

I'm just curious. Because if any of these areas were to have a renaissance and get all hip to be at, then the big stores will notice and move right in.

For instance, this exact scenario is happening right now in Killingly, CT, and just happened 5 years ago in Millbury, MA. Little almost nothing towns that are now shopping meccas.
 
#70
Richland123 said:
What's next? All the libraries will close? :rollno:
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I sort of doubt it. And I hope not, although libraries in many areas are and will be facing economic issues just like these chain stores.

QWhile I'm not in the library field at this time, it's what my degree is in and I worked in libraries from the lower rungs all the way into upper administration for years.

they have problems concerning raising awareness of their services and overcoming the stereotype a lot of people have of libraries being dusty old museums for books with harsh old ladies yelling at you to hush, but the library is a pretty robust institution.

The libraries in my area are thriving (as are the smaller mom & pop bookstores and music stores, etc.)

Libraries have all kinds of educational and entertainment programs for kids and adults, give free literacy and other trainings to people, have all kinds of media available for free loan or download, have free public meeting rooms (or most do anyway), free internet access, interlibrary loan services that can get you a book or movie or piece of music or research article, etc. from just about anywhere in the world, job search assistance, reference services to help answer almost any question, many libraries have extensive archives of periodicals, journals, art, government documents, etc.

While libraries do have a reputation for being staid and sort of mired in the past, I can tell you that they really have been and are at the forefront of technological innovation. They are always seeking to expand and expedite services and find a way to best serve their communities. There is even one small library in Tennessee that checks out prom dresses to serve a low income population. How cool is that? They are really only limited by what their patrons want and need. And it's all free.

(Well, many libraries are funded by ad valorem taxes along with other resources, but typically library cards and services are free.)
 
#71
I didn't mind borders, but really there's nothing lost here from my consumer viewpoint.

If I want to browse through books for an hour or so to enjoy the treasure-hunting experience (and get a ton of used books for a fraction of the cost of Borders) I can go to a mom and pop store.

If I need a specific book that I'm not going to find in a little store, I can grab it on amazon (again, much cheaper than at Borders) where the selection was better to begin with.

I'm with the camp that believes there's actually a mom and pop revival over the last 5 years or so. People have been reactionary to the huge chains (even as they continue to give them plenty of money), and have been starting to embrace local stuff more than I've seen them do since Walmart first started popping up in every single little town and neighborhood. I sure hope it picks up steam rather than proving to be a fad because it's cool to see a more immediate sense of community than you can get over the internet (present TB company excluded of course!) popping up, and even cooler to see a lot of people supporting local craft and DIY activities.
 
#75
Yeah, poo on me for not looking at the locations more closely...hahaha

Thanks bro.
:cool:

For ha-has, because I'm ignorant to their sprawl, but do you have a LOT of Wal-Mart / Barnes and Nobles, Best Buys up in Toronto area? It's at the heart of my comment... I haven't been up there in a decade, sadly, so I wouldn't know. NEED to go backsoon, I love road trips.
 
#76
hover said:
Yeah, poo on me for not looking at the locations more closely...hahaha

Thanks bro.
:cool:

For ha-has, because I'm ignorant to their sprawl, but do you have a LOT of Wal-Mart / Barnes and Nobles, Best Buys up in Toronto area? It's at the heart of my comment... I haven't been up there in a decade, sadly, so I wouldn't know. NEED to go backsoon, I love road trips.
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Actually, no, we don't. We have a few Best Buys/Future Shops here and there; we've got some Indigo megabookstores (they bought out Chapters, if you remember them); we have the occasional Bay or Zellers department stores, and of course we have Home Depots and Canadian Tires and all that. I actually know of only 2 Wal-Marts, and one is very new and a good distance to the north of me; and I'm out in the northern 'burbs.

But not nearly as many as you might think; in fact I know of only 1 or 2 of each in downtown Toronto proper. Most of the big-box stores happen in the suburbs up here; most people in the city tend to prefer smaller shops. There's gentrification happening all over, of course; but the small shops just move. Toronto's urban geography is in a constant state of flux, moreso than any other city I'm aware of, which is why I choose to live here.

If you do end up coming to visit, PM me and we'll go for a beer, eh!
 
#80
R. Laevinus said:
I actually know of only 2 Wal-Marts, and one is very new and a good distance to the north of me; and I'm out in the northern 'burbs.

Toronto's urban geography is in a constant state of flux, moreso than any other city I'm aware of, which is why I choose to live here.
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I was thinking today about making a trip to Toronto soon. The EX is coming up in August. I have been going to TO since 1976 and have never seen a city change so often and so fast in many ways. I had a four year span recently without going to TO and was amazed at all the changes in that time. However, crossing the border is a real pain anymore. There is a mega 2 floor Wal-Mart in the Square One Mall in Mississauga I have been in. If I come up, I will have to PM you.
 

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