The Trouble with Bookstores, Redux
A few months ago, as Borders closed some of its stores, I wrote this blog post. This week we get the word that Borders is completely liquidating and will be no more.
When I came to Jackson, Michigan, seven years ago, we had several small bookstores. None of them were great. Almost all of them are now out of business. What's gone? Best Books in Jackson Crossing, a small bookstore in a strip mall on West Ave., another small bookstore that was on West Ave. (I can't even remember their names), the Nomad Bookstore on Mechanic (which both came and went during these years), and now, we'll see the Waldenbooks in Jackson Crossing close, as well.
Where can you buy a book, other than online, in town?
But since we don't have much selection here, much less a bookstore with a comfy chair to curl up in, I did most of my book shopping in Ann Arbor or Lansing. In Ann Arbor, there were three big Borders a year ago, and one Barnes and Noble. I suspect that Barnes and Noble will become very overrun unless another big store pops up in town. Ann Arbor, you would think, could support at least one more bookstore in town. Hopefully Barnes and Noble or Books-a-Million will seize the opportunity. Meanwhile, I may head to Lansing, which still has all of its big bookstores -- two Barnes and Nobles, and, even better, two Schuler's Books. I've just discovered they have weekly online coupons, which makes them more price-competitive, and they're locally owned--like Borders once was.
*sigh* I will miss it. Goodbye, Ann Arbor institution.
When I came to Jackson, Michigan, seven years ago, we had several small bookstores. None of them were great. Almost all of them are now out of business. What's gone? Best Books in Jackson Crossing, a small bookstore in a strip mall on West Ave., another small bookstore that was on West Ave. (I can't even remember their names), the Nomad Bookstore on Mechanic (which both came and went during these years), and now, we'll see the Waldenbooks in Jackson Crossing close, as well.
Where can you buy a book, other than online, in town?
- You can buy textbooks at Baker College and Jackson Community College.
- You can buy Christian books at Agape in Jackson Crossing.
- You can buy children's books at the Toy House and a lesser number at Toys R Us.
- You can buy comic books at Nostalgia, Ink.
- You can buy used books at the Jackson Book Exchange.
- And you can buy bestsellers at Meijer, Target, and I think K-Mart and Wal-Mart (I seldom shop at these two).
But since we don't have much selection here, much less a bookstore with a comfy chair to curl up in, I did most of my book shopping in Ann Arbor or Lansing. In Ann Arbor, there were three big Borders a year ago, and one Barnes and Noble. I suspect that Barnes and Noble will become very overrun unless another big store pops up in town. Ann Arbor, you would think, could support at least one more bookstore in town. Hopefully Barnes and Noble or Books-a-Million will seize the opportunity. Meanwhile, I may head to Lansing, which still has all of its big bookstores -- two Barnes and Nobles, and, even better, two Schuler's Books. I've just discovered they have weekly online coupons, which makes them more price-competitive, and they're locally owned--like Borders once was.
*sigh* I will miss it. Goodbye, Ann Arbor institution.
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Alex