Philosophy
The Caravan Book Store in Los Angeles is not unique and the event is happening everywhere. In my city there is only one used book store now. The pleasure of the encounter is disappearing forever.
It might be hard to imagine, but there was once a "book row" in downtown Los Angeles.
Today, the Caravan Book Store may be all that remains of the row, which extended along 6th Street from Hill to Figueroa streets. The owner, Leonard Bernstein, said when his father opened the store in the 1950s, it was still the era of street cars and downtown department stores.
Most of "book row" disappeared in the 1960s, he told blogdowntown's Ed Fuentes, during downtown's retail decline and first wave of redevelopment.
But Bernstein said he hoped downtown's revitalization might bring new bookstores into the city core.
"I welcome the other independent bookstores," he says. "There's room for more of them. A community of bookstores is better than one...or none."
"This is my world here, where I feel comfortable," he added. "I plan to stay."
- Bookstore Censorship?
Crispin Sartwell plays with a good one concerning a commercial form of censorship. In Tunisia, the wife of the deposed dictator -- both of whom are rightly despised -- has written a memoir. Bookstores labored under state-sponsored censorship...
- Location, Location, Location...used Bookstores Lose In Nyc
"Literary City, Bookstore Desert" Surging Rents Force Booksellers From Manhattan by Julie Bosman March 25th, 2014 The New York Times After scouring Manhattan for a second location for her bookstore, Sarah McNally finally decided to open one in Brooklyn...
- Cushy Fall Job...bookstore Sitter
"Wanted: Bookstore-sitter. Sell books, feed cats, lodging included" by Carolyn Kellogg August 27th, 2012 Los Angeles Times Ever wanted to run an independent bookstore? Maybe one in picturesque rural Virginia, in October and November? Now's your...
- Small, Independent Bookstores
In my city of nearly two million, they are virtually gone...maybe three left. Even used bookstores are nearly gone and relegated to thrift stores. "Is there hope for small bookstores in a digital age?" by Bob Minzesheimer February 9th, 2011 USA TODAY...
- Mutanabi Street Booksellers--update
Mutanabbi Coalition Darren De La Pena I made reference to the book sellers in December of 2008 [ Mutanabi Street--back and thriving ]. Here is the sad update. "The Vanishing Booksellers of Baghdad" by Nick McDonell March 5th, 2009 Time Mutannabi Street,...
Philosophy
A pleasant life experience near death
The Caravan Book Store in Los Angeles is not unique and the event is happening everywhere. In my city there is only one used book store now. The pleasure of the encounter is disappearing forever.
"Remembering when 6th Street was downtown's 'book row'"
by
Shelby Grad
May 9th, 2010
Los Angeles Times
by
Shelby Grad
May 9th, 2010
Los Angeles Times
It might be hard to imagine, but there was once a "book row" in downtown Los Angeles.
Today, the Caravan Book Store may be all that remains of the row, which extended along 6th Street from Hill to Figueroa streets. The owner, Leonard Bernstein, said when his father opened the store in the 1950s, it was still the era of street cars and downtown department stores.
Most of "book row" disappeared in the 1960s, he told blogdowntown's Ed Fuentes, during downtown's retail decline and first wave of redevelopment.
But Bernstein said he hoped downtown's revitalization might bring new bookstores into the city core.
"I welcome the other independent bookstores," he says. "There's room for more of them. A community of bookstores is better than one...or none."
"This is my world here, where I feel comfortable," he added. "I plan to stay."
- Bookstore Censorship?
Crispin Sartwell plays with a good one concerning a commercial form of censorship. In Tunisia, the wife of the deposed dictator -- both of whom are rightly despised -- has written a memoir. Bookstores labored under state-sponsored censorship...
- Location, Location, Location...used Bookstores Lose In Nyc
"Literary City, Bookstore Desert" Surging Rents Force Booksellers From Manhattan by Julie Bosman March 25th, 2014 The New York Times After scouring Manhattan for a second location for her bookstore, Sarah McNally finally decided to open one in Brooklyn...
- Cushy Fall Job...bookstore Sitter
"Wanted: Bookstore-sitter. Sell books, feed cats, lodging included" by Carolyn Kellogg August 27th, 2012 Los Angeles Times Ever wanted to run an independent bookstore? Maybe one in picturesque rural Virginia, in October and November? Now's your...
- Small, Independent Bookstores
In my city of nearly two million, they are virtually gone...maybe three left. Even used bookstores are nearly gone and relegated to thrift stores. "Is there hope for small bookstores in a digital age?" by Bob Minzesheimer February 9th, 2011 USA TODAY...
- Mutanabi Street Booksellers--update
Mutanabbi Coalition Darren De La Pena I made reference to the book sellers in December of 2008 [ Mutanabi Street--back and thriving ]. Here is the sad update. "The Vanishing Booksellers of Baghdad" by Nick McDonell March 5th, 2009 Time Mutannabi Street,...