American Way
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R E T U R N By David Hale O F Smith T H E G R E A T A M E R I C A N I N D I E B OO K S T O R E The demise of the neighborhood readers’ paradise has been greatly exaggerated. 76 FEBRUARY 2015 AMERICAN WAY AM STANDING IN A SLOW-MOVING THE MYSTERIOUS BOOKSHOP line of people in a small New York New York City bookstore, queued just behind www.mysteriousbookshop.com multimillion- copy-selling author Lee reat bookstores are not Child (creator of the Jack Reacher thriller only about self-involvement, I series). On another night, Child would be though. A great bookstore is the main draw in a store like this, but we are both cus- G communal, their owners res- tomers today, chatting about the books we are read- ervoirs of knowledge. If you are lucky ing. We are waiting to say hello and get an autograph enough to find avuncular owner Otto Penzler in his Mysterious Bookshop, for from author Reed Farrel Coleman, who is signing example, be sure to ask for a recommen- copies of his new book, Robert B. Parker’s Blind Spot, dation about what he’s reading from his recently published by Putnam Adult. We are drinking private stash. Penzler is this country’s complimentary Ballantine IPA beers, cradled in the most experienced, most connected and warm Tribeca location of The Mysterious Bookshop, a narrow 1800 square feet of heaven on earth for mystery and thriller A great bookstore is lovers. This is the kind of intimate experi- ence you can expect to have on a normal communal, their owners night at an indie bookshop. reservoirs of knowledge. Such experiences may seem rare, but most knowledgeable mystery bookseller they are increasingly available to everyone, and collector. A recent New York Times as American independent bookstores are story about him estimated his personal thriving in many cities around the country. library of books at over 50,000 volumes. In fact, rumors of their demise in the age of The oldest dedicated mystery-genre Amazon.com and e-books are greatly exag- bookstore in America, The Mysterious Lee Child, Bookshop was opened by Penzler in 1979 author of the gerated. We still love reading “real” books on West 56th Street in Midtown Man- Jack Reacher — that is to say, physical, printed editions. hattan and then relocated to its current novels, is a proponent of A new survey of U.S. book-buying behavior downtown location on Warren Street indie book- by Nielsen Books & Consumer shows that nearly 10 years ago. The store is just a OF BOOKS & (2) COURTESY PREVIOUS PAGE: ULF ANDERSEN/GETTY IMAGES; LEFT: TOP GETTY IMAGES ANSCOMBE/ SALLY BOOKS; BOTTOM: OF MYSTERIOUS COURTESY TOP: sellers. both hardcover and paperback print books significantly outsold e-books in the first half of 2014. A 2013 American Booksellers Association report con- firmed sales at indie bookstores were on the rise. These numbers support what my gut tells me is true. Bookstores are still wondrous, magical little places. There is something special about the commu- nity that gathers in and around a great local bookstore. Browsing their aisles is an invigorating experience; the brain fires up at the riot of colorful book jackets, the earthy smell of quality paper and the promise of future hours well spent, tucked away inside your mind. Here are a few of my favorite indie bookstores that offer just such a promise: 78 FEBRUARY 2015 AMERICAN WAY few minutes’ walk from New York City Hall, the Manhattan end of the Brooklyn Bridge and the new Freedom Tower. As you’d expect, Mysterious carries a deep selection in the mystery, thriller and suspense categories, with an always-full stock of new hardcovers, paperbacks and mystery-related periodicals. They also feature a collection of signed first editions, as well as rare and collect- able books. Fans of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s Sherlock Holmes will be delight- ed to know that most of an entire wall of shelves is dedicated to the legendary au- thor’s series. From original first editions to scholarly works, Mysterious orders AD every new item related to the world of “Sherlockiana.” The store celebrates the great detective’s birthday with an open house, and they even have a monthly newsletter to keep customers up to date about their various book clubs, new book releases, in-store events and recently ac- TOP LEFT: ULF ANDERSEN/GETTY IMAGES; PREVIOUS PAGE: COURTESY OF BOOKS & (2) COURTESY PREVIOUS PAGE: ULF ANDERSEN/GETTY IMAGES; LEFT: TOP GETTY IMAGES ANSCOMBE/ SALLY BOOKS; BOTTOM: OF MYSTERIOUS COURTESY TOP: quired rare books. POWELL’S CITY OF BOOKS Portland, Oregon (flagship location) www.powells.com rom its humble beginnings in 1971 on a city street cor- ner in northwest Portland, F Oregon, Powell’s Books has grown into one of the world’s biggest bookstores. It not only has five locations in the Portland area, it also serves cus- tomers worldwide as one of the book world’s most successful online retailers. BOOKS & BOOKS a complimentary term, meaning that Powell’s roots trace to Chicago. As Coral Gables, Florida good word-of-mouth from him and a University of Chicago graduate stu- www.booksandbooks.com his staff is something that major book dent, Michael Powell opened his first publishers rely on to generate buzz and bookstore in the Windy City in 1970. y favorite books & books enthusiastic support when they are de- Encouraged by friends and professors store is the flagship in Coral buting their new big books. Kaplan is a (including novelist Saul Bellow, ac- Gables. (There are four lo- co-founder of the Miami Book Fair In- cording to store lore), Powell borrowed M cations in the Miami area.) ternational and former president of the $3,000 to assume a lease on a used Founded by Mitchell Kaplan in 1982, American Booksellers Association, the bookstore. Powell repaid the loan with- this is one of the finest and most im- in two months. The business made its portant independent bookstores in the way to Portland after Powell’s father, country. A gathering place for authors Walter, worked in the Chicago store. and artists, the store is a Florida land- Mitch Kaplan and The elder Powell enjoyed the experi- mark. The historic 1927 Mediterranean- ence so much that upon returning to style building is 9,000 square feet with his store are powerful Portland he decided to open his own original tile floors, a fireplace, high- forces in American used bookstore. He quickly acquired beamed ceilings and floor-to-ceiling so much used inventory that he moved wooden bookshelves. independent bookselling. the entire operation into a former car The philosophy at Books & Books, dealership. That location has under- Kaplan says, “is about neighbors, nonprofit trade organization for inde- gone many transformations as Powell’s books, history, quality, tradition and pendently owned bookstores. They even flagship store, and at 68,000 square feet, OF BOOKS & (2) COURTESY (2) OF POWELL’S COURTESY creativity.” Mitch Kaplan and his store have an old-school proper newsstand are powerful forces in American inde- in the breezeway that features a huge pendent bookselling. Kaplan is even selection of national and international known in the industry as a “big mouth,” magazines and newspapers in multiple languages. Guests are en- couraged to sit and enjoy the almost-always-perfect South Florida weather in the outdoor courtyard with umbrella-covered tables while enjoying a coffee from their cafe. Books & Books also welcomes a regular ro- tation of local, national and international writers as part of its award-winning “Reading Series.” 80 FEBRUARY 2015 AMERICAN WAY it is a “city of books,” packed wall to wall and floor to ceiling with new and used books. Color-coded rooms house more than 3,500 different sections, including an immense selection of out-of-print, older and difficult-to-find books. -Pow ell’s buys between 3,000 and 5,000 used books over the counter every day and stocks more than one million volumes on its shelves. Powell’s is an online-retailing pio- neer as well. It began selling books via the Internet in 1994. Within two years, its entire inventory, new and used, was tagged and available online. The Wash- AD ington Post called Powell’s “perhaps the best bookstore in the world,” not least of all because Powell’s is staffed by ex- perienced and dedicated book lovers who know the store like home. They can walk you directly to a book you’re after – while making actual recommendations COURTESY OF BOOKS & (2) COURTESY (2) OF POWELL’S COURTESY of other good books along the way. LITERATI BOOKSTORE great little store where people Ann Arbor, Michigan could physically connect with all www.literatibookstore.com these wonderful books.” Hilary says there has been nothing but here is a new generation pleasant surprises since they opened ond best-selling section. But the young of indie booksellers rising in their doors. “The most rewarding thing retail entrepreneurs aren’t just count- the wake of these booming is helping people discover great books. It ing on walk-in traffic. They are always T larger independent stores. is so fun to see total strangers talking to experimenting, even partnering with Literati Bookstore opened in 2013 in each other about the books in our store local restaurants and bars to host off- Ann Arbor, Michigan, home of the for- and recommending their favorites to site special events. They recently held mer Borders bookstore chain. Michigan one another.” an event called The Ravens Club Book natives and young married couple Hilary Club.