Independent book stores are not common in the New York State county I live in. When I moved here over 30 years ago, we had several. They are all history now, although I think one may still be operating online, run by a retired librarian and her husband. We have a couple of more recent ones, but, when I looked on Yelp for bookstores in my county, most of them listed weren't in my county. Some weren't even close to my county.
Meanwhile, Greenville, South Carolina, population a bit over 70,000, has six independent bookstores.
Spouse and I visited two of them back in February.
M. Judson Booksellers and Camilla Kitchen in downtown Greenville calls themselves "A Modern Literary Hub in Downtown Greenville, South Carolina" and they are, with frequent author booksignings and lots of other community events.
This is a sight you will never see in New York, despite our state being a leading wine producer (because bookstores and most other retail outlets can not sell wine - even New York wine. (climbing off soapbox).
Fiction Addiction is in a shopping center, and is smaller than M. Judson.
While we browsed, we overheard a conversation with a frequent customer. This store prides itself on picking the perfect book for its customers. That's part of the beauty of frequenting local businesses.
Here are some other bookstores I've run across in South Carolina. Sadly, the last one has closed.
Higher Grounds in Columbia, South Carolina is a church outreach project, and their Facebook page seems to indicate this is more of a cafe than a bookstore.
Finally, let's pay tribute to A Very Little Bookstore, now closed, in Summerville, South Carolina. It was a children's book store. I read that it had flooded at one point, but I'm not sure that was the reason for it going out of business. Their Facebook page has been taken down.
I loved its store window.
I love reading. I'm sorry the store didn't make it, because I filled my house with children's books once upon a time.
What is your favorite bookstore?
"I" day of the Blogging from A to Z Challenge. My theme: Exploring South Carolina and the Eastern United States.
We used to have a really nice local bookstore here in a neighborhood mall until Barnes and Noble built kitty-corner to it. Now, both are gone and I buy books on Amazon.
ReplyDeleteVery interesting series of various facades
ReplyDelete...the bookstore business must be tough these days.
ReplyDeleteIt's sad that Broome County doesn't have any independent bookstores -- even over by Binghamton University. Perhaps not enough book-buying readers to sustain them? Or too many folks ordering online? Even here in NYC, the few independent bookstores struggle to stay open -- when there used to be so many when I moved here in the 70s. Glad to see SC has a lively bookstore culture.
ReplyDeleteOne of my favorite leisure activities used to be visiting two of my favorite bookstores. Since I now read books exclusively on my Kindle, I don't really do that anymore. (Also, it might have something to do with driving into downtown Houston.) But I suspect my life is poorer for the lack.
ReplyDeleteI do my reading on my Kindle, so I usually shop on line. I used to like browsing at Barnes &Noble or Borders. Never really went to the independents.
ReplyDeleteI live in a bookstore desert. Oh, there's a Barnes & Noble, but that's no fun. I love used book stores. The mall only has a Christian bookstore.
ReplyDeleteI like the big bookstores but still miss browsing the indies.
ReplyDeleteI love used book stores! You can find everything from new releases to treasures you have been seeking forever!
ReplyDeleteThat's sad. I hate hearing about bookstores closing, although I don't actually frequent bookstores. (I do not have the space for books.) Speaking of used bookstores, we do have a place called Book It (I think) in the local mall. They carry electronics and collectibles and DVDs and CDs, too.
ReplyDeleteOur town has a lovely book store. I check the book section in the thrift store.
ReplyDeleteCoffee is on and stay safe.
We have quite a few book stores that are very popular with book lovers in the city where I live and I can totally relate to the feeling that you shared. Its sad that many such traditional book stores, especially the smaller ones are are struggling to survive these days.
ReplyDeleteVery saddening that traditional bookstores are shutting down.
ReplyDelete