Some sad local bookstore news

[gnomi]

As I went past on Friday afternoon, I noticed that WordsWorth Books in Harvard Square has "Going out of Business" signs in the window. I knew they'd been having problems, but I hadn't realized that they were at the point that they were having to close. They've been a landmark for me in Harvard Square for as long as I can remember (I seem to remember them being there when Baileys was still across the street from their location, for instance). And I'm saddened by the loss of a great independent bookstore.

I wish the owners well in their future endeavors.

Comments

[rikibeth.livejournal.com]

They certainly WERE still there when there used to be a Baileys.

Now you've got me craving Baileys hot fudge.

WAAAAAAAHHHHHHH.

[saxikath]

Gah. No!! I haven't been to that side of the Square lately, I guess. But what a deep shame.

[arib.livejournal.com]

Will Curious George Goes to Wordsworth close as well?

[jencallisto]

i think they're staying open. before i left town i made of point of stopping by both, and the girl at Curious George said that they've been doing better financially than the parent store.

[moneypenny.livejournal.com]

BLEARGH. They had better stay open until I get home so I can visit one last time.

[vettecat.livejournal.com]

I'd heard they were closing, apparently the advent of Amazon et al has cut into their sales sufficiently that they can't afford to stay there. Very sad.

[kalessin.livejournal.com]

This is awful news. Nothing good will replace it.

I've been going there since I was thirteen or so, old enough to spend fifty cents to get into Harvard Square on the bus, play pinball at 1001 Plays up along Mass Ave, have a burger at Bartleys ($3.75 for the burger and fries) and browse science fiction at Wordsworth.

It will be missed.

[neilfein.livejournal.com]

What's really hard to find these days (at lease, down here in NJ) is hole-in-the-wall independent used bookstores. These used to be as common as NJ Parkway signs but are now having trouble staying in business. It's gotten to the point where I'm ending up at Strand more often than I can afford, simply because there's nothing here.

But there is hope. There's a place in South Brunswick, although the proprietor only has room for the romance paperbacks; almost all the science fiction and such is in her garage. (She used to have an entire attic storey filled with these books, I'd dose up on allergy meds and made an afternoon out of it.) And a new place opened in Metuchen (town next door), although they don't seem to understand that if you're never open you won't sell books. Arrrgh.

The megastores are fine, but they're putting both small cafes and indie stores out of business.