Thursday, January 8, 2009
Books / Retail San Fransisco Is Running Out of Bookstores
Posted by Paul Constant on Thu, Jan 8, 2009 at 5:27 PM
San Francisco bookseller Stacey's Books, which has sold books in the Bay Area for 85 years, is going out of business. Guess why:
Like other independent book sellers, Stacey's had been hurt over the past decade by the rise of national chains, like Barnes & Noble, and Web-based booksellers, such as Amazon.com. The store's general manager, Tom Allen, said sales had dropped 50 percent since March 2001.But the final blow was the crumbling economy, which hit hard during the holidays. Stacey's sales in the fourth quarter of 2008 plummeted 15 percent from the same period in 2007.
"That in itself would not have spelled the end," said Allen. "But it came on top of several years of more gradual decline."
I never went to Stacey's. But I did go to Cody's Books, which was a great San Francisco bookstore that died recently, too. I hope Borderlands survives. It's a great sci-fi bookstore in the Mission. I always thought Seattle's nerd community could sustain a good sci-fi bookstore. Maybe not these days.
Share via
1
I worked within 5-6 blocks of Stacey's for years, and probably went there at least once a month. It will be very sad to see it close. It was a terrific store -- for cookbooks and technical books especially.
4
Well, I guess it wouldn't make much sense for the booksellers to stay in business when the publishing houses themselves are going TU. Here's a very scary statistic: Only 2% of everybody in America reads one book a year. No shit. You can't blame "Large Corporations," you can't blame the fucking Republicans, you can't even blame the Internet. Blame a society that can no longer be bothered to read.
5
Awe man, I go to Stacey's at least twice a month. I love that place. As far as I know, it's the only thing like it downtown. (I think there is [uh, was?] a Borders around here someone, but I've never noticed it.)
I love that so many specialty bookstores can thrive here as well (as Paul mentioned Borderlands), but I'll be damned if a single one of the 10 bookstores in my neighborhood ever has something I'm looking for (which I guess should be obvious, since I'm not a huge sci-fi fan, lesbian, gardener, or anarchist. I do, however, like cats.)
Say what you will about the "big guys", but Stacey's and Cody's were a rare breed. It wasn't too long ago bookstores in most every other city in the country fucking sucked before the advent of Borders or B&N. Staceys, you will be missed.
I love that so many specialty bookstores can thrive here as well (as Paul mentioned Borderlands), but I'll be damned if a single one of the 10 bookstores in my neighborhood ever has something I'm looking for (which I guess should be obvious, since I'm not a huge sci-fi fan, lesbian, gardener, or anarchist. I do, however, like cats.)
Say what you will about the "big guys", but Stacey's and Cody's were a rare breed. It wasn't too long ago bookstores in most every other city in the country fucking sucked before the advent of Borders or B&N. Staceys, you will be missed.
6
@ 4
Do you have a source for that 2% quote? I read a few years back that, "less than half of Americans buy a book each year." I know that book stores are taking a hit, but can it be that bad? I'm just curious as I site this figure often.
Do you have a source for that 2% quote? I read a few years back that, "less than half of Americans buy a book each year." I know that book stores are taking a hit, but can it be that bad? I'm just curious as I site this figure often.
7
Reader, it came to me via the Penguin Group about two months ago; sorry, I don't know what their source was. Suppose I could ask them.
8
Associated Press-Ipsos poll from 2007 says one in four adults read no books at all in the past year. Considerably higher than 2%. I don't know what that figure is based on either.
10
Especially since, at least until recently, more books were being sold than ever before. Whether people actually read those books is another matter, of course.
11
I'm going to miss Stacey's, too. I always found something interesting when I went in -- great lunch hour shopping destination. However, there's still Alexander Book Co. on 2nd St just off Market -- good selection, helpful staff, always glad to special order, a real community asset.
12
Everyone loves small local bookstores. At least until it comes time to actually buy a book.
I'll admit I enjoy wandering through a bookstore now and then, but I haven't bought a book from one in a few years.
I'll admit I enjoy wandering through a bookstore now and then, but I haven't bought a book from one in a few years.
13
Isn't Cody's the one that died due to really poor management? There was a PBS documentary about two bookstores -- and while it supposed to be sympathetic to Cody's, it seemed like they ran it into the ground -- Amazon or not.
14
Paul, you need to check out the latest Cometbus - it's all about the history of Berkeley bookstores including Cody's, Moe's and more. Good stuff!
15
Aw man, not Stacey's. I guess I should've seen it coming when the location in San Jose got closed down and replaced by a giant AMC multiplex cinema.
17
Wow. This really resolves me to try and buy online from Powell's or locally from now on. Seriously. While I highly doubt my fave local stores -- Bailey Coy, Elliot Bay, etc. -- will go under tomorrow, I'd rather be ahead of the curve and keep them around, not see them listed on Slog as yet another potential casualty.
18
Might be sacrilege to say in here, but reading a book is overrated, and by correllation, bookstores.
I'm not sure what the fetish is with books, but they are an outdated form of entertainment. Fine in the 18th century. Lame in 21st.
Most literature is nothing more than high-brow soap operas. The vast majority of authors have very little knowledge. So, how can they possibly enlighten me.
They are entertainment. Good for passing the time. I have no problem with that. So is golf. Except, golf now uses technology to improve the game.
For the most part, we don't worship other forms of entertainment of the 1850s. Even if we do (perhaps baseball), they have adapted to the times.
Books, and booksellers, need to get with the times or become obsolete.
Sorry to attack your sacred cow.
I'm not sure what the fetish is with books, but they are an outdated form of entertainment. Fine in the 18th century. Lame in 21st.
Most literature is nothing more than high-brow soap operas. The vast majority of authors have very little knowledge. So, how can they possibly enlighten me.
They are entertainment. Good for passing the time. I have no problem with that. So is golf. Except, golf now uses technology to improve the game.
For the most part, we don't worship other forms of entertainment of the 1850s. Even if we do (perhaps baseball), they have adapted to the times.
Books, and booksellers, need to get with the times or become obsolete.
Sorry to attack your sacred cow.
Most Commented on Slog
-
WTF? by Dan Savage
-
Your Wife Died Alone... by Dan Savage
-
Meanwhile in Vancouver by Dan Savage
-
Health at Every Size by Dan Savage
-
The Democrats Have 60 Votes in the Senate for Health Care Reform by Jonathan Golob
-
The Cost (and Fear) of Dying by Anthony Hecht
-
Is Your Teen Out of Control... And Smoking Hot? by Dan Savage
-
SL Letter of the Day: Hot For Twinks by Dan Savage
-
Real Salt Lake vs. Galaxy Open Thread by Christopher Frizzelle
-
Levi Johnston's Butt by David Schmader
RSS
Facebook
Twitter
Comments (18) RSS