I hate to sound too jaded, but BTBR (Bound to be Read) has never sat well with me. I can't help but feel kind of glad they are leaving.
I miss (more than words can describe) Odegaard, but BTBR was just a pretender. It billed itself as an independent, yet was Hubbard Broadcasting's attempt at a book chain - they do have other BTBRs, but not in this market. Thank God the Red Balloon survived its onslaught. The area does need (and can support) another general bookstore, but let's build it from the ground up - and keep in mind that books aren't about turning a profit. I would like to see a co-op based bookstore sprout up. Barnes and Noble and Borders Group have spent the last few decades trying desparately to turn a profit from bookstores, but they don't get it. You don't use salesmen and incentive programs to sell books. It's about reflection and interaction - personal reflection and community interaction. Hubbard knew less about books than B&N and Borders. Books are not commodities - they are art (or should be). You can't sell a book like it is just another widget. I've been in the retail book business for the past ten years - it's just amazing how clueless these corporate endevours can be. Hopefully, we'll see a new truly Independent crop up soon, but in the meantime the nearest place to breathe things in must be the Central Library - hey...maybe a small public library branch on Grand! Yeah, they're flush with funds ;). Ah well...perchance to dream... Chris Rybisky Cathedral Hill --- Jon Gorder <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > The second to last of my favorite book stores is > about to be shuttered (Birchbark Books is kept alive > by owner Louise Erdrich's personal wealth). I wonder > if there is anything that can still be done in order > to forestall the closing of this beautiful store. > Maybe if everyone on this list tells five friends to > go and buy a book from Bound To Be Read we can > encourage the owners to keep on trying. > > > __________________________________________________ > Do You Yahoo!? > Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam > protection around > http://mail.yahoo.com > ------------------------------------------------- > JOIN the St. Paul Issues Forum TODAY: > http://www.e-democracy.org/stpaul/ > ------------------------------------------------- > POST MESSAGES HERE: stpaul@mnforum.org > > To subscribe, modify subscription, or get your > password - visit: > http://www.mnforum.org/mailman/listinfo/stpaul > > Archive Address: > http://www.mnforum.org/mailman/private/stpaul/ > __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around http://mail.yahoo.com ------------------------------------------------- JOIN the St. Paul Issues Forum TODAY: http://www.e-democracy.org/stpaul/ ------------------------------------------------- POST MESSAGES HERE: stpaul@mnforum.org To subscribe, modify subscription, or get your password - visit: http://www.mnforum.org/mailman/listinfo/stpaul Archive Address: http://www.mnforum.org/mailman/private/stpaul/
