Long-standing and fiercely independent bookstore Book Passage, in Corte Madera, CA, is facing the ultimate enemy…the potential opening of a huge Barnes & Noble only a block from where they are located.
Bill Petrocelli, co-owner of Book Passage, said he doesn’t know whether the Barnes & Noble move is actually happening. But if true, he said, “It’s distressing because Barnes & Noble has a history nationwide of targeting independent stores and putting them out of business. I have no illusions about what they are trying to do here.”
News story here, and an ’emergency website’, created by concerned locals here .
Facts
It’s distressing because Barnes & Noble has a history nationwide of targeting independent stores and putting them out of business.
Anyone have a source and some facts to back up the above statement? Clearly if a BN opens in a town that will cause competition between the BN and other bookstores but that does not mean BN is “targeting” independent stores?
Population 9100
The town of Corte Madera has a population of 9,100. A town that size probably has a relatively concentrated business district. That being the case it is not suprising that the BN is locating with a block of the independant bookstore.
Surely
the only way to make sure the Book Passage doesn’t close is not to shop in B&N?
It’s informing and campaigning on behalf of the smaller store and continuing to shop there that would win this war not shouting ‘unfair unfair!’
Rather odd considering theres another (albeit smaller) B&N fairly close though.
If that one closes it makes more sense.
Re:Facts
I believe it’s a fairly widespread phenomena (B&N driving independent bookstores out of business); but why don’t you do a bit of research on the subject…I’d be interested in hearing your findings.
Research sources
Here’s a place to start (courtesy of Google search):
07/20/98 SLINGS AND ARROWS FOR BARNES & NOBLE… concede that Riggio serves readers better than an independent bookstore. … If Barnes & Noble is bringing more books to the masses, why have so many …
http://www.businessweek.com/1998/29/b3587051.htm – 12k – Cached – Similar pages
Barnes and [email protected] bookstores have a very difficult time competing with Barnes and Noble. Because Barnes and Noble is a huge chain, they can afford to lose lots of …
http://www.everything2.com/index.pl?node=Barnes%20and%20N oble – 25k – Cached – Similar pages
Independent Bookstores Face Chain-Store ThreatFOR MANY book lovers, an independent bookstore is a necessity of life. … Domination of the industry by the big chain bookstores, Barnes & Noble and …
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/ chronicle/archive/1998/11/29/ED96882.DTL – 26k – Cached – Similar pages
NWU – Asks FTC to Stop Barnes & Nobel/Ingram DealJust weeks later came the news of the Barnes & Noble/Ingram deal. … financial information regarding any independent bookstore customer to Barnes & Noble; …
http://www.nwu.org/pic/bn1.htm – 22k – Cached – Similar pages
The Dartmouth Free Press : One Less BookstoreSchiffman believes that contracting to Barnes & Noble will strongly boost the … “The concept recognized the value of a vibrant independent bookstore …
http://www.dartmouth.edu/~thepress/read.php?id=679 – 10k – Cached – Similar pages
Barnes Ignoble: plight of the indie bookstore Opponents claim the shelf-space of a chain store like Barnes & Noble is occupied … Where Red & Black Books once operated, a new independent bookstore has …s .html – 17k – Cached – Similar pages
students.washington.edu/ruckus/vol-2/issue-6/book
Speaking Out – Almanac, Vol. 44, No.10, 10/28/97Can the Committee cite one instance of a Barnes & Noble store being driven out of business by competition from an independent bookstore? …
http://www.upenn.edu/almanac/v44/n10/spout.html – 16k – Cached – Similar pages
A Word in Your Ear: Bookstore Mergers and the Decline of CivilizationHow Barnes & Noble wants to dominate an industry, … When you buy from an independent bookstore, you are investing in your local community, …
www2.aphelion-webzine.com/features/rob_6.htm – 9k – Cached – Similar pages