Dwindle

[essentialsaltes]

Dutton's is going, and now the word is that Acres of Books is on its way out. Now, I'll cop to the fact that in my many visits to the million plus books at Acres of Books, I think I've only come away with one pathetic book lauding the importance of the Great Pyramid in evaluating human history. Nevertheless, it is another icon of used book-dom in the greater LA area, and its passing leaves the number of options... at a ridiculously small number. The Change of Hobbit, Dangerous Visions, Flights of Fantasy, Paperback Trader, Hunter's Books... all receding in the mists of time. Like tears in rain. Time to die.

Comments

[zorker.livejournal.com]

I get sad every time another used book store closes. It's just too easy for people to go online and order stuff now, and the used book stores end up in areas with low rent and low foot traffic. I try to go to a used book store whenever I am looking for something before I look online. Since I work in Burbank, I go to Movie World (which combined with the other used bookstore down the street and has tons of old SF paperbacks), Bookfellows (for any more obscure SF stuff), and I've looked in the store across the street from Bookfellows. It's sad though. I remember as a kid going down to the Burbank Media center area before they gentrified it and shopping at all the used book stores there, but I've watched them close one by one till there's only the one left.

[razrangel.livejournal.com]

*sobs* oh my Acres of Books. It really is heart rending. I live less than a mile away. In a mile radius around Acres there used to be no less than five other independent bookstores as recently as two years ago. Two - Open and a political bookstore "2000+ Books" moved to other parts of town. Equal Writes (gay themed) and Gnosis (new age) are gone, gone. All because of the fucking yuppization of downtown. There's also an Afro-themed bookstore (I can't recall the name) that's close by that's probably going to close down as well - thanks to emminent domain.

There used to be some decent shopping in the area. Now good stores and art galleries have had to close down to make room for the next restaurant and/or (pre-made) lofting project to bring in yuppies who wanted to be closer to the shopping and arts village. GAH.

[jason-brez.livejournal.com]

you guys want to do a run there before it closes, a la our run to book baron?

[essentialsaltes.livejournal.com]

Well, like I said, I never find anything there. I think it's the black hole where unsaleable books go to die.

[thefayth.livejournal.com]

agreed, finding a book no. discovering a book, hell yeah. really sad to see it go, buying books by the pound was cool. thanks for the post!

[richardabecker.livejournal.com]

Used or new, independent bookstores are fewer and further between all the time. It's a damn disgrace. I go to the big Bookmarts to read and loiter; I spend my money at places like Vroman's or even online (no, *not* Amazon -- that's no different than the soulless giant book outlets). I'm sure there are many who would tell me my individual spending choices mean nothing at all in the larger scheme of things, and they may fuck themselves publicly and profanely. I want independent bookstores and I'll put up my pittance to help...

-- Richard

[dustchick.livejournal.com]

Add to this the fact that Borders is in financial trouble and may be purchased by Barnes & Noble. Bookstores in general are in trouble.