Here's an article about the first bookstore I worked for, Books Inc., which is the West's oldest bookstore and has just had its 160th birthday.
I worked for the San Jose store as paperback buyer, and eventually was transferred to manage the La Jolla store (in SoCA, the chain was called Hunter's Books, but it was the same chain. I knew and loved Michael Tucker and Michael Grant, mentioned in the article, and Mike Grant's son Nikolai, also mentioned, wasn't much more than a toddler then.
Business os booming, Michael Tucker is running a tight ship, and I couldn't be happier for them.
I'm glad to see a brick-and-mortar doing so well in today's environment. The key is keeping up with the changes and they seem to have that covered. I do all my book buying online these days. Circumstances forced that on me. Ho bookstore in town anymore, the nearest is forty miles away if they're still in business(Borders and Barnes and Noble) and my health prohibits me driving those distances anymore.
I can get most anything I want online and there is the rub. I always loved finding that book I didn't even know I wanted until I came across it. That was part of the magic of bookstores. I could never pass one by without stopping in. I could be broke, but would have to browse anyway. That was my addiction.
Posted by: Randy Johnson | July 15, 2011 at 07:59 AM
A hand for brother Randy. We're all in this addiction together...
Posted by: Jeff Mariotte | July 15, 2011 at 06:13 PM