nother local bookstore closes, this time, Joybird Books, less than a mile from my house.

Loved that shop. Popped in from time to time but the owner felt sorry for selling me so many books and ended up loaning them to me. Also, the store was set up as a community center, so there was room for kids to color and play, for people to sit, to enjoy themselves. My wife and I went to Zen sittings on Sunday nights there.

Another victim of the failure of Americans to read, and the encroachment of Amazon into every aspect of small store ecologies.

Now, while I’ll miss it, I really wasn’t surprised. I’ve a number of favorite bookstores, some in London, some in Norfolk. You know a good used bookstore when you go in and there are tight stacks of books. Joybird, which pleasant, was really airy and open. That meant less books and fewer choices. Example: the scifi section was one cubby of books, maybe six books total. Most used bookstores have several shelves of scifi books. Manga is another draw and needs a couple of shelves. Even used DVDs can be a draw. Sure, it’s okay that kids can color but I need a reason to go in to browse.

So it’s not my store and I don’t call the shots. I’m just sad to see it go. For whatever faults it might have (I think overinflated rents are a problem in that strip), I still loved the place.

In that, it joins Juniors and P is for Pie as beloved businesses in that strip that have come and gone.

>>>BUY A BOOK, YES, ON AMAZON, BUT THERE ARE NO LONGER LOCAL PLACES TO SELL IT TO YOU<<<