Does it specialize in new or used books? Does it emphasize particular subject areas? What does it do to carve out its own niche among the chains and on-line businesses?
Categorized | Affiliate Marketing 101
What Is Your Favorite Independent Book Store? What Is So Special About It?
Posted on November 9, 2010.
McNally Robinson has a section with Regional Interest (I’m from Manitoba) and has books according to publishers that really strike my fancy.
Chapters has a large selection of books available as well.
It’s a little secondhand bookstore right next door to a brothel, specialising in everything. Few people know it’s there but those of us that do are loyal. What makes the store such a success and an absolute enjoyable experience are the owners, a 60+ married couple. They treat everyone like family, always have the best tasting home baked goods and tea and coffee on hand, they’re always up for a chat and are very warm, loving and funny. Everyone is welcome in their store, you will find people from all walks of life, even a girl or two from next door. And that is why they own a secondhand bookstore, for the people that come through their doors. All the books are a bonus.
This new/used book store in my town of Montclair, New Jersey has this great place that looks as though it’s tiny from the outside, but once you’re inside, you’re proven wrong. The store is super deep and has a basement and an upstairs. Somehow, the store remains super organized and they used items they sell are usually in incredible condition and go for about $3.00 (paperbacks, anyway). There website is even programed in such a way that you can search their inventory! I think that’s sort of impressive for a little independent shop. All of the signs/labels that indicate where all the different genres of books (non-fiction and fiction alike) are hand crafted and really humble the place down…making it even more cozy.
It’s one of those places that just have a feeling; an aura to it that you can’t quite explain but you just love being there!http://montclairbookcenter.com/
That isn’t surprising considering it is the worlds largest indy book store. (Used to be the world’s largest single book store until B&N put in their 10 story NYC store).
Second would be Titlewave here in Anchorage where I live. Third would either be Half Price Books on the Crossroads shopping center in Bellevue Washington, or the Ananda bookstore in Mountain View California. Fourth is Pheonix books outside Ithaca New York (At one point in my life it was #1. The owner has since left the store to his kids and it lost most of the charm. 🙁
I don’t know if they’re still around, but there are two Macdonalds books in the East Side of the seattle met. . .
The Science Fiction and Fantasy bookstore is now defunct, but when it was around it would have been #2 on this list.
The important thing about all these locations: they’re all used bookstores. Powells aside, they all had good staff as well. I have nothing against powell’s staff; simply the bookstore is so large that it can’t have a small solid staff the way that smaller bookstores can.