Here’s some first hand perspective on book stores in Northern Minnesota. My book, “Overburden: Modern Life on the Iron Range, was published in 2008 by a small house, Red Step Press, based in Duluth. As a local book from a new press we had a good run. Without getting into numbers that might embarrass me in big time publishing circles, we did sell our first printing and most of our second run.
We sold more than half the books at independent bookstores in Virginia, Hibbing, or Grand Rapids, Minnesota. In years to come, the Woodward’s store in Virginia (they sold books *and* yarn) closed. My friends Joe and Mary retired from the Howard Street Booksellers in Hibbing and no one took over the shop. They do order books for people if you all them.
And the Village Bookstore in Grand Rapids? For the last year, rumors circulated that they weren’t going to last much longer. The owner neared retirement. His daughters found other work.
But unlike many independent bookstores, which DO go gently into that good night, the Central Square Mall refuses to let it close.
This, from a Christopher Fernlund story in the Grand Rapids Herald-Review:
Many may have noticed changes happening at the Village Bookstore. Repainting, reorganizing and a bit of disorder over the last month have culminated into many rumors about the fate of the Village Bookstore.
“People could tell something was happening,” said Central Square Mall Manager Jean Healy who explained the bookstore is not moving or closing but has been bought by Central Square Mall. “We didn’t want to lose the bookstore.”
One response to “Grand Rapids mall to keep indy bookstore open”
I’ve read that independent book sellers, especially those with used books, are doing at least ok in many areas. The profit margin on used books is apparently higher. And people live to browse. I’d think that in a touristy area like GR, used books might be a hit.