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YouTubeI just moved to the Short North from the Clintonville area. Everything is within walking distance except for a decent bookstore. I feel like if there were one, I'd be complete.
Anyone agree?
Columbus Underground Messageboard » General Columbus Discussion » Everyday Chit Chat
Short North needs a bookstore!
[22 posts] [18 contributors]
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lochnessangie
Short North
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Posted 3 years ago # -
turnedNOTburned
Grandview/Columbus, Ohio
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I would think it would have to be either 1.) More than a bookstore 2.) super highly specialized, i.e., book collectors, etc. As mentioned above, its almost impossible to compete with the big box stores above. I would think that some kinda partnership between a coffee shop, and a specialty book place would be the perfect marriage (kinda like what Northstar is doing).
Posted 3 years ago # -
catnfiddle
Giant Corncob District
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How would another branch of Half Price books fare in a Short North location? I love the one near me!
Posted 3 years ago # -
lochnessangie
Short North
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lochnessangie
Short North
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lazyfish
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There is a great bookstore just north of King...it's called the library. You can have books from the entire county system delivered to your branch....also the anarchist kids have the Sporeprint lending library at 5th ave between Summit and N. 4th....
otherwise the small independent bookstore is doomed, going the way of small pharmacies, hardware stores, record stores....the market is gone, betwenn Amazon, online speciality retailers, and the corporate chains there ain't enough oxygen left for the little guys.
I still love SBX and it is a good excuse to walk up to campus. The sale book rack is where I have found some of my favorite books.
Posted 3 years ago # -
lifeontwowheels
Highland West
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turnedNOTburned wrote >>
I would think it would have to be either 1.) More than a bookstore 2.) super highly specialized, i.e., book collectors, etc. As mentioned above, its almost impossible to compete with the big box stores above. I would think that some kinda partnership between a coffee shop, and a specialty book place would be the perfect marriage (kinda like what Northstar is doing).Or Kafe Keruoc (spelling horribly butchered)
Posted 3 years ago # -
ZHC
101 East Main Street, Downtown
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lazyfish wrote >>
..
otherwise the small independent bookstore is doomed, going the way of small pharmacies, hardware stores, record stores....the market is gone, between Amazon, online specialty retailers, and the corporate chains there ain't enough oxygen left for the little guys.I'd say that's more than a bit oversimplistic.
The main problem with any would be general merch retailer whether it's pharmacy, a hardware store, a bookseller, a grocery etc in the short north is the three critical ones of space size, lack of proximate parking and high rent.
Any bookseller would probably want a lot of space (probably in excess of 5,000 sq feet), a fair amount of close parking and low rent. The Short North has very very spaces that have any of those three criteria.I think it's doable if you get the right space up there, you probably have the demos to support one. TurnedNOTburned has the right idea, most successful indies I've encountered have some sort of niche/specialty anymore.
It's my understanding that independent bookseller's actually gained market share from 2004-2007. I don't know what's happened since then. But to call them doomed is certainly premature.
Posted 3 years ago # -
Mae
Olde Towne East
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lochnessangie wrote >>
catnfiddle wrote >>
How would another branch of Half Price books fare in a Short North location? I love the one near me!That really would be ideal.
It's not likely that HPB will open a store in Columbus very soon. We opened two stores here in 2007, and I don't know of any Short North locations that would really suit (see ZHC's comment for some very compelling reasons why).
A store like Acorn in Grandview might fare well in the Short North -- a mix of used and antiquarian books, someplace you could order and pick up new titles. They would have to have a sideline, though (other products, or food service) to supplement their income.Posted 3 years ago # -
ratzo
someplace with WiFi
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Not the SN but a bookstore just opened up on Long St. in the KLD next door to Urban Spirit. Not exactly walking distance, I know, but...
If Half Price Books lived anywhere near me I think I'd live there. As it is, its proximity keeps me from pigging out there on a regular basis. I've only recently started taking serious advantage of the library and I love it.
http://www.webcomicsnation.com/rich318/citymouse/series.php?view=archive&chapter=31933
Posted 3 years ago # -
Bear
The woods
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Don't underestimate the potential for expertise to add value.
B&N and the rest of the huge bookstores succeed in part because they just carry tons of books. The smaller bookstores that I've seen succeed in the Amazon era are those that (in addition to what ZHC wrote) know their stuff and carry a smaller number of good books. Some are staffed by avid readers whose picks are very reliable... but regardless, they know books amazingly well and can help you find what you want. (Same is true of the library, of course.)
One of those in the Short North? Yeah, I'd be all over it.
Posted 3 years ago #
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