I absolutely love and adore independent bookstores!! Not only do I enjoy visiting, shopping and reviewing independent bookstores here on my book blog, but I also enjoy all the wonderful benefits that come along with visiting independent bookstores.
Independent bookstores (done right) are pillars of the community. They offer many wonderful benefits like book/reading groups, author signings/events, staff recommendations, other book related events, and so on. Plus, each independent bookstore is unique in its own way. They have staff members who are knowledgeable and passionate about books, reading, and catering to readers and shoppers within their community.
So, it is with a very sad heart, that I've recently learned that Granada Books in downtown Santa Barbara, California will be closing its doors on May 3, 2015 after two years of being in business. I first learned about Granada Books closing their doors on their Facebook page... I also discovered the following article titled, Independent bookstores on decline as Granada Books shuts doors by Marissa Wenzke at the Pacific Coast Business Times that offers more details.
I lived in the Santa Barbara area for 16 years (up until May of 2014) and had visited Granada Books on several occasions. I even wrote a glowing review about my experience visiting Granada Books in 2013. I loved their storefront with its great location on State Street. The friendly staff members at Granada Books was always a perk. I always enjoyed the abundance of wonderful books for purchase, layout of their store's interior, and all the awesome events they hosted frequently throughout each month. Granada Books is truly a community bookstore. Granada Books was doing everything right in making sure their bookstore was awesome, so it sucks big time that they will soon be closing their doors for good next month.
Currently, everything at Granada Books is on sale. Books are 40% off and even their book displays are up for sale!
Granada Books marks the third independent bookstore, I've visited that has closed its doors since I started my blog. It is a sad thing to loose a indie bookstore.
Have you seen a decline indie bookstores in your area? Do you shop at indie bookstores? Or do you prefer shopping for books though big chain bookstores or online through Amazon?
Independent bookstores (done right) are pillars of the community. They offer many wonderful benefits like book/reading groups, author signings/events, staff recommendations, other book related events, and so on. Plus, each independent bookstore is unique in its own way. They have staff members who are knowledgeable and passionate about books, reading, and catering to readers and shoppers within their community.
So, it is with a very sad heart, that I've recently learned that Granada Books in downtown Santa Barbara, California will be closing its doors on May 3, 2015 after two years of being in business. I first learned about Granada Books closing their doors on their Facebook page... I also discovered the following article titled, Independent bookstores on decline as Granada Books shuts doors by Marissa Wenzke at the Pacific Coast Business Times that offers more details.
I lived in the Santa Barbara area for 16 years (up until May of 2014) and had visited Granada Books on several occasions. I even wrote a glowing review about my experience visiting Granada Books in 2013. I loved their storefront with its great location on State Street. The friendly staff members at Granada Books was always a perk. I always enjoyed the abundance of wonderful books for purchase, layout of their store's interior, and all the awesome events they hosted frequently throughout each month. Granada Books is truly a community bookstore. Granada Books was doing everything right in making sure their bookstore was awesome, so it sucks big time that they will soon be closing their doors for good next month.
Currently, everything at Granada Books is on sale. Books are 40% off and even their book displays are up for sale!
Granada Books marks the third independent bookstore, I've visited that has closed its doors since I started my blog. It is a sad thing to loose a indie bookstore.
Have you seen a decline indie bookstores in your area? Do you shop at indie bookstores? Or do you prefer shopping for books though big chain bookstores or online through Amazon?
We don't have any Indie bookstores near where I live. In the mall outside of town is a very small Waterstones and in my town is a second hand bookshop and a pile of charity shops. None of these places stock a lot of books in the genres I like and what they do stock are full price so I get all my books from Amazon. I have a tight budget so getting the books a lot cheaper through Amazon is vital to me.
ReplyDeleteI buy books or receive books in a variety of ways. I do buy books a full price on rare occasions... Like at author signings... Or if it's a book I really, really want. Or I am buying a books as a gift. Otherwise, I buy used books at used bookstores, library book sales and Friends of the Library Bookstores and charity bookstores. I even exchange used books with other readers. I also have received free books from the Goodreads First Reads Program and download free eBooks from Amazon. I do buy new books from Amazon as well and enjoy the discounts received through Amazon. I even buy used books through Amazon from non-Amazon sellers, etc.
DeleteWow, I'm really sad to hear that about Granada. It won't be there when I go back to visit Santa Barbara. Indie bookstores tend to have the coolest quirky gifts. There aren't many notable indie bookstores near where I live in southern San Diego, not even a chain bookstore. A little bit north, however, there are a few, including Mysterious Galaxy, which specializes in sci-fi/fantasy books.
ReplyDeleteIndie bookstores are quirky and fun!! Granada Books had some amazing events that I enjoyed attending!
DeleteI want to visit the Mysterious Galaxy someday.
It's always sad when an indie bookstore goes out of business :( I've only ever had maybe 2 indie bookstores in my area and I think both of them have closed. Now there's just a couple chain stores. In a couple cities near me though there are many more indie bookstores that I hope I can visit soon!
ReplyDeleteLaura @BlueEyeBooks
Have fun visiting nearby indie bookstores! They're amazing places to visit.
DeleteThis is so sad to hear but not surprising. I love to support Indie bookstores but unfortunately I don't always have the money to pay the full retail price for books. We have one Indie bookstore in my area and fortunately, it has stayed opened for the past few years. If anything, it seems to be pretty popular. When I want to buy a special edition or I know that I have to buy a book at full price, I go to the Indie store to do so.
ReplyDeleteI should really look more into our Indie store and write a post on it.
I try and visit indie bookstores when I can and write reviews on them. I've been to five of them in neighboring cities. I try visiting and reviewing bookstores when I go on vacation as well.
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