Due to declining sales the owners of the African-American interest bookstore Eso Won Books, Los Angeles, Calif., will consider closing later this year. L.A. Wave reported.
This would leave the number of African-American genre bookstores down to no more than half a dozen.
Besides competition from chain stores and Internet retailers, co-owner James Fugate cited a decline in purchases from institutions such as the Los Angeles Unified School District and public libraries. Last week he made a pitch to those customers via e-mail, saying in part, “Supporting us keeps books in the community, especially since we’ve moved over here, there really isn’t a bookstore around, [for] miles. There’s no real place–so people come here not just only [for] black books but they come here for school books.”
In recent years, Eso Won has won widespread attention for a series of star-studded book signings and readings, which have featured such notables as former President Bill Clinton, actress Angela Bassett and mystery writer Walter Mosley.
But, Fugate said, many attendees don’t purchase books at these events. “Certainly people come when we have our big events and I think, in some ways, people began to think, ‘Oh, Eso Won could get by because we got President Clinton. Then they think we’re fine. [But] If you really don’t shop with us, then we’re definitely not going to survive.”
Humanity
Please read this before assuming it’s contents are unimportant.
I have a community building, sustainable idea that can benefit all of mankind. I have already started to give this idea away, mostly anonymously. I do not want to become known or famous in any way whatsoever. I believe that this idea can benefit any one who is able to see beyond their own self and realize that we are one.
What do I want? I want to give this idea to any one who is interested. I am not asking for money. I am not asking for rights (I already have them) This concept is simple, will generate enough money to support itself and whatever the community needs, at least in theory. I haven’t put it into practice, yet. It is being worked on daily.
Imagine Create Believe
a nonny mouse