I still miss the wonderful atmosphere and sense of discovery at the Remarkable Bookshop in Westport. Used to love going there when I was child.

That is good news. We have a couple of nice independent bookstores in my town, and take them for granted when we shouldn't. Enjoy!

Nice! Indies are few and far between around here. You've made me nostalgic for a bookstore downtown that had new books on the first floor, posters and art supplies on the second floor, and used books in the basement. It was a great place and the basement was the best part. Sigh.

I love my Politics and Prose in DC .

I'm not a big book reader but I'm still really tickled to read about your news. It was so devasting for small book shops when the big box stores moved in. Now that the big box stores are getting slaughtered by online sales, maybe this is a sign that the little guys have a fighting chance. I think this is a perfect example of what happened than and is happening now to many smaller businesses in a variety of sectors. It reflects that there is a big (and consistent) shift in the attitude of buyers who are trying to be more supportive of local businesses. Michigan's economy is largely comprised of small enteprenaureal business and we're starting to see this tread in our area more and more.

Indie bookstores do fill a niche vacated by even the big box stores. They are more flexible and can respond to local needs better. They support local authors, and even coordinate with local businesses and schools. And if you need something not in stock, they don't have to first check their other stores, they go right to the warehouse. One year my special order arrived a day and a half later, during a blizzard. The area indies also seem to have more author events than the Barnes and Noble.

Reading this post reminds me of one of my favorite movies - You've Got Mail - where a small children's bookstore owner's business is threatened by a giant retailer.

I enjoy spending time in bookstores and libraries and am grateful to have them. Whenever we visit an independent book store we make a purchase, even if it's a children's book to add to the GDDs' collections.

Since my kids were little we've made an annual trip up the road to Kennebunkport's Clam Shack and always enjoyed shopping at a quaint old upstairs bookshop in the square. We were dumbstruck a few years ago when we walked up and found it closed.

Support your local bookstore, or you may lose it.

Amck2, just last week I watched The Shop Around the Corner, an inspiration for YGM (but with tchotchkes instead of books...there's a bit about a cigarette box that is so funny...)

And yesterday I watched 84 Charing Cross Road, oh, my, love it every time. Helene's line "I never buy a book I haven't read"!

I don't like to own books but when I do buy, I use a local book shop (oldest continuously operating book store in America!). In December, much to my surprise, I had 600 points accumulated from earlier purchases (it equaled about $32) so I guess I buy more books than I realize. It covered the majority of the cost for books I was buying for gifts so it was a nice treat. Indies do, indeed, rock.

How nice that your local store is expanding. I wish them well.

bpathome, thanks for mentioning 84 Charing Cross Road. Hadn't heard of it but looked it up and the first review makes me want to watch it ASAP. So hard finding good movies like that!

ETA. I have seen The Shop Around The Corner. It was years ago, and I thought it was charming. I like movies from that era for the scenery, clothing, etc. almost as much as for the plot.

Amck, after you watch it, read the epistolary book!

One of my all time favorite books. The film pales in comparison.

Different. I do like Anne Bancroft in it.

i feel like a traitor...I stopped in at Barnes and Noble twice this week...and I liked it. I bought a magazine (that my indie doesn't carry) B&N had an entire bookcase of adult coloring books, as well as at least 3 display tables or racks around the store. My Indie has an just endcap of them.