Whoever is writing a book on the decline of the printed book industry keeps getting material, at least here in our fair realm. The latest casualty is the Barnes and Noble in Georgetown, who announced last month they will be closing down by the end of the year.
I didn’t make it to this particular store a lot, but when I did, I loved the experience. The view from the second floor café was always fun, and unlike most other bookstores, it offered browsers three floors-worth. And unlike the suburban locales, their front door was a two-step away from the sidewalk.
Business is business, and we as consumers must adapt. But in this case, there’s a real blow to the community. It’s not just the retail aspect, but the loss of a “third place.”
As Wiki notes:
This term, coined by Ray Oldenburg in his book The Great Good Place, described those places in a community where people come together outside their home (first place) or work (second place). They can be bookstores, cafes, pubs, libraries, whatever. To Oldenburg, and those that follow him, these places are most essential parts of that community.
Sad to see this one go...
Note: Georgetown Metropolitan blog reports the new tenant will be a Nike shoe store.
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