This afternoon I popped into the downtown branch of my favorite independent book retailer. I hadn't been there in years, and with the movie theater next to it shutting down, I knew its sales would be strained. I bought a few gifts, used a frequent buyer coupon, and felt good that I had supported the independent, rather than the Borders just three blocks up the street.

But I really like Borders. Always have. I'll support my local independent chain (not an oxymoron in my mind, although someone who once worked there has strenuously objected to my use of the "independent" terminology) when I can, but Borders is a favorite haunt. I finally got sucked into its e-mail list, and just as I had feared and suspected, its frequent 20% off coupons are a lure for my occasional purchases.

I go to Barnes & Noble sometimes as well, although I've never liked it quite as much as Borders. I did buy a couple of jazz CDs there this year, using gift cards for the bulk of the purchases, and covering the spread.

Those chains are a supposed threat to the independents. But what would happen if they, too, began to disappear? This story suggests that Borders may soon be on the block, and BN may be a suitor, as a slowly sinking economy and the competition from online booksellers takes its toll on the big booksellers.

The news will probably make some people happy, but not me. I was browsing a Borders a few days ago, thinking of how online bookstores just can't recreate the atmosphere and the tactile experience (obviously) of paging through books, picking up CDs, and drinking coffee.

When did these big chains debut? It hasn't really been all that long. Has their time come to an end already?

Hey, I'm from Detroit. Borders is STILL the great independent bookstore for me, just multiplied. The original Borders on State St. in Ann Arbor was always a destination in itself and I have fond memories of browsing it when Dena and I were courting, or just married. I'd drop her off at some appointment and go over a few blocks and wait for her to get her hair done or some such. The stores we all find everywhere now are just slightly more well organized versions of that original and sprawling store.

Having worked for Borders for five years, I have a soft-spot for the store. I still prefer it over B&N (there are a few nitpicky reasons for this preference too), and I always feel like the people actually care when I'm at a Borders. I mean, I love indie booksellers — but in an area saturated with B&N's, Borders FEELS like an independent store.

Sad news about my favorite local independent bookseller:

Olsson's Braces For Chapter 11 Filing:

Olsson's Books, one of the oldest independent booksellers in Washington, plans to file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, founder John Olsson said yesterday.

Pressed by creditors who have filed claims against the company's inventories and by rising overhead costs, Olsson's is closing at least one store and will evaluate its ability to operate its remaining five properties, an attorney for the company said.

"The book business is getting a little soft. It's not selling as much as it used to," Olsson said. "Our music sales went from 50 percent of our business to maybe 15. We lost a lot of revenue, and at the same time rents went up and real estate taxes went up. I don't know what we would have done differently. It's a killer."

When I was at my local Borders last weekend to buy a couple of CDs, I was shocked to see that the floor space devoted to CDs there had been approximately halved! I knew Olsson's was struggling -- music was the most obvious area where sales were contracting. But Borders? I knew they were having some issues with book sales, but I had thought music was doing OK for the chain.

Nope.

Digital downloads, my friend. Digital downloads.
As I heard it said a few weeks ago, if an industry loses 10-to-15% of its income, it is in a recession.
The last few years record sales have plummeted over 40%.

And yet more music is being discovered--just less music is purchased.

Time to reevaluate the music business model...

Nick

Oh, I'm so sorry to hear that. I love Olsson's. They're pricey, but they have a really good selection. I've always made a beeline for the store every time I've gone to Old Town Alexandria.

ETA: I just realized the one that's closing is the one by my old office. Now I'm REALLY sad. I used to be in there all the time on my work breaks.

Olsson's has closed.

How are the independent book and music retailers doing in your city?

Noooo! I hadn't even realized they were in trouble before now!

Now where will I go to rent quality DVDs? (And every time I step in the door, I would be tempted to pick up a book -- and I would often give in to temptation.)

Powell's asks its employees to scale back their hours. Happy holidays!