Comments on: On Bookstore’s Last Day, Future Is Unclear http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/06/01/on-bookstores-last-day-future-is-unclear/ Blogging From the Five Boroughs Thu, 06 Oct 2011 16:51:56 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=4.2.4 http://graphics8.nytimes.com/images/section/NytSectionHeader.gif NYT http://www.nytimes.com By: Phillip Ozdemir http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/06/01/on-bookstores-last-day-future-is-unclear/comment-page-1/#comment-851659 Sat, 15 Jan 2011 16:20:17 +0000 http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/06/01/on-bookstores-last-day-future-is-unclear/#comment-851659 Pete Soter is a guy with one of the highest integrities I have ever met. If the Morningside Bookstore closed, you can bet it wasn’t his fault.

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By: William UWS http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/06/01/on-bookstores-last-day-future-is-unclear/comment-page-1/#comment-514131 Wed, 02 Sep 2009 19:14:19 +0000 http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/06/01/on-bookstores-last-day-future-is-unclear/#comment-514131 I disagree.

Bookstores can thrive and will do so for some time to come. The aesthetic appeal of holding a book in one’s hand, turning pages, and of passing it down, loaning it out, finding it by chance – can not be replicated in the digital world.

I am an eBook reader (both purchased and through NYPLs digital collection) and a founding Audible listener – yet I still savor the experience of paper-based books.

Go into any company and you’ll see printers churning out thousands of pages every day of the very documents employees are examining on the screen – and it’s not a generational thing. Recent graduates who have grown up with computers print just as often as those to whom the experience is novel. Paper is still the medium of choice, especially when reviewing that which requires several elements strewn across many pages.

The bookstore experience may need to change and expand it’s offerings – a books and things sort of environment – very much so like to coffee shop Peter and Amelia sought to open – where books are works of art that collectors, fans, and lovers keep. And it may thrive better in places where the overhead isn’t as great as NYC. But for now it’s too early to call the death knell of bookstores.

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By: william http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/06/01/on-bookstores-last-day-future-is-unclear/comment-page-1/#comment-461327 Wed, 10 Jun 2009 05:50:50 +0000 http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/06/01/on-bookstores-last-day-future-is-unclear/#comment-461327 The bookstore business model is just like a record store, typewriter repair shop, photo developing, etc…they are all obsolete concepts….no matter who or what type of bookshop you put in there, they wont survive,…it’s a dead business model…

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By: Josh http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/06/01/on-bookstores-last-day-future-is-unclear/comment-page-1/#comment-461131 Tue, 09 Jun 2009 21:19:47 +0000 http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/06/01/on-bookstores-last-day-future-is-unclear/#comment-461131 Amelia,

Thanks for trying. I think Morningside is/was a great shop and a valuable part of this community where I work. I bought nearly everything I’ve read in the past eighteen months at your store, and most of the books were real bargains. The readings and events you’ve put on have been great.

I hope you can find a way to stay there.

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By: Amelia http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/06/01/on-bookstores-last-day-future-is-unclear/comment-page-1/#comment-460533 Tue, 09 Jun 2009 14:42:42 +0000 http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/06/01/on-bookstores-last-day-future-is-unclear/#comment-460533 Thank you for your comments. I’d like a moment to respond to these –

#1. We went to CU with a change in our business model in Feb. 08. They nixed our idea to install a coffee bar in our shop. We thought we were out and ran business as such. But, after 6 months of petitions, calls, etc. from neighbors and pols, CU acquiesced, At that point we then owed 117K.
Summer of 08 they agreed to our change of model, but demanded all money owed up front and an increase in rent for the coffee bar footprint. Very difficult considering the recession.

We also have a couple of other changes to the model that have been impossible to implement as they have given us only month to month relief on this stipulation.
And, yes, we would have had business school, engineering school, law school students helping us next semester had we been able to stay in business as I am/was part of a program run by the Eugene Lang Entrepreneurial Center at CU.

#2 More to it than that. See above and below.

#3 Shopping used bookstores requires time and frequency to find the gems. The downstairs was not the “collectible” section but just old, out of date, used books of certain sections which did not sell very well in general. We had no financial incentive to keep them fresh or up to date. We would add used as we received them. What was new was prominently placed up front on the sidewalk level.

#10 What store did you walk into and when? Current books were right out front. Our staff consisted of people who knew a lot about books each having worked in the industry a minimum of 10 years. Students had three other stores they could call their own – we catered to the community that didn’t belong to Columbia.

About that awning – again another Columbia wonder. They installed it for us. When it broke our insurance wouldn’t buy another as we didn’t buy the first. CU sent their current awning vendor who didn’t put up our awning. They wouldn’t replace it. CU wouldn’t research who did put up the original awning to affect the guarantee and because of this it does not open as it is broken. When it was working we had it open all the time. Loved the awning.

# 12 read my response to #15 – Yes the University is responsible for our predicament. We were never able to recover from our initial loss due to the University’s bobbling at a time of upheaval in the Real Estate Department. We asked them for rent consideration after the first year. Even though we had a continuation of the old lease (read rent stabilized), they considered our space “subsidized” as it was below market and they wouldn’t lower it any more to help us recover from their mis-management of the situation.

#11 & 13 – dreamking dream on! Dumpster dive around CU or any other University at the end of the year to find the bargains you want. Turning down a 75% off sale when we could still get 50% – you do the math.

#15 – Where did you get your information as it is not all correct. Papyrus lost it’s large coursebook business because the owner wasn’t friendly.

With regards to the ceiling, CU told us they would tear down the ceiling to fix a leak and it would take 2 weeks in all. They did so the day we signed our agreement with Papyrus. This demolished state lasted one month before they started any plumbing. Then it took 6 months to put the ceiling and electrics back as CU had no plans.

We had to create them, have them approved, file them, enact them all on our dime. (We were repaid pennies on the dollar for the ceiling.) Not having a store for 6 months does wreak havoc on the bottom line.

As businesspeople, we should have closed after the first year seeing as we were mortally wounded from the fiasco that was the ceiling. We believed in our mission of being a community bookshop and tried.

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By: R. Reagan http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/06/01/on-bookstores-last-day-future-is-unclear/comment-page-1/#comment-457725 Wed, 03 Jun 2009 23:44:32 +0000 http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/06/01/on-bookstores-last-day-future-is-unclear/#comment-457725 When Morningside Books replaced Papyrus, you knew things were looking grim. Papyrus had a great overall selection for all ages, not to mention a solid business in coursebooks. Friendly staff, to boot.

What’s not mentioned about the storeowner’s debt to Columbia is HOW he got that deep in hock. When the owner first took over, he asked Columbia if they would give him the option to replace the roof of the space, which needed repairs. He did so at cost and was not recompensated because he signed a contract with CU that did not cover any repairs.

Admittedly, it is buyer beware, but CU still held out for the extra rent and don’t seem too distressed about losing a cozy bookstore that served as a touchstone for many non-4-year residents of the neighborhood.

Now they’re probably going to replace it with another makeup/wig store, just like the one that sits in the old Kim’s on 113th and Bway.

No one can do a damn thing about it, since CU has the Borough President and much of the city’s power structure in its pocket. For anyone doubting this, see the debacle that is the West Harlem Landgrab – whoops, I meant Expansion.

At least there’s a silver lining to all this – their endowment took such a big hit in the crash that future construction projects are likely to be delayed for at least a couple of years. Couldn’t have happened to nicer people

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By: Ennufal Reddy http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/06/01/on-bookstores-last-day-future-is-unclear/comment-page-1/#comment-457463 Wed, 03 Jun 2009 17:14:32 +0000 http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/06/01/on-bookstores-last-day-future-is-unclear/#comment-457463 Sadly, given the cost of going to university, there may little money left over for books.. I am sorry to see what I once knew as Papyrus books close forever…

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By: dreamking http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/06/01/on-bookstores-last-day-future-is-unclear/comment-page-1/#comment-457113 Tue, 02 Jun 2009 18:32:44 +0000 http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/06/01/on-bookstores-last-day-future-is-unclear/#comment-457113 Even in the last days, Soter was still turning down walk-in 75% offers on books. Hopefully he was getting a better offer from clearance houses, but it seems unlikely.

The failure of this store is not an indictment on bookstores in general, or on Soter. I think he and his partner were just too close to the see the problems, and got sucked into the paralysis of day-to-day survival mode.

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By: CU Alum http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/06/01/on-bookstores-last-day-future-is-unclear/comment-page-1/#comment-457111 Tue, 02 Jun 2009 18:32:21 +0000 http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/06/01/on-bookstores-last-day-future-is-unclear/#comment-457111 One or two comments have blamed Columbia for the bookstore’s plight, but the owner has stated publicly that the university is not at fault. He isn’t making enough money to pay his rent, and Columbia has let him remain in the space longer than any for-profit landlord would have in the hope that business would pick up. The university is not the cause of the bookstore’s problems.

Columbia isn’t trying to make a big profit on this space, but it shouldn’t have to absorb a loss either. The store already owes over $150,000 in back rent, and that money has to be made up somewhere else. The university shouldn’t pull revenue from other programs in order to subsidize a for-profit retailer. It is hard to fault Columbia for its unwillingness to let this trend continue.

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By: dreamking http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/06/01/on-bookstores-last-day-future-is-unclear/comment-page-1/#comment-457105 Tue, 02 Jun 2009 18:25:29 +0000 http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/06/01/on-bookstores-last-day-future-is-unclear/#comment-457105 yeah, the owner had an attitude issue, the books were an odd mix of expensive used mystery books and a smattering of expensive everything else. The topical areas I would have been interested in had such a narrow selection. The store, essentially, needed much more space than it had for what it was trying to do. It was neither a destination, nor comprehensive nor a true specialist bookshop. Instead of specializing or being a hangout or going whole-hog into used books, they tactically (or fitfully) targeted genres and cut way down on selection. The space was too much of a constraint.

My favorite bookstore is not the one that’s closest to where I live or work, it’s the one where I can excavate treasures I didn’t even know I wanted, or relax or be pulled in by broad-appeal activities. Anything else and there is no real reason not to use Amazon or the Columbia Bookstore.

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By: Long Time Neighbor http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/06/01/on-bookstores-last-day-future-is-unclear/comment-page-1/#comment-457051 Tue, 02 Jun 2009 16:59:19 +0000 http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/06/01/on-bookstores-last-day-future-is-unclear/#comment-457051 As other posters have pointed out, Morningside’s inventory left much to be desired. Current best seller’s weren’t given prominent placement (love it or hate it, a stand for the latest Mayer and Rolling drives sales) and in an era where many people no longer pay list price for books, even a token discount (5%?) on popular items wasn’t evident.

Most of their “discount” books were overpriced distressed books, technical books that were woefully out of date, and travel guides from years past, each obsolete book taking up valuable space that detracted one from whatever gems could be found.

The regular assistant knew nothing about books.

Having so many distressed, used books didn’t help. Their facade also wasn’t as inviting as it could be, looking more like a bargain book bin than a place you could find new and interesting titles. Their awning was rarely open, further reducing their draw, and though right next to the University, Morningside did nothing evident to have students think of it as their campus bookstore. Mr. Soter kindly hosted a weekly children’s event (much loved by the community) but where was the merchandise that kids and parents would desire once inside? There was nothing other than some used children’s books in a bin outside.

Granted that Columbia has been more than patient with Morningside, but Columbia should also be ashamed for charging $9,000 a month for such a small footprint.

I want Morningside to continue, but Mr. Soter or his partner should visit thriving bookstores to see how they’re organized and what they do to draw in customers.

Columbia and Mr. Soter: Bring back a better, modern, Morningside Bookshop!!

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By: WastingTime http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/06/01/on-bookstores-last-day-future-is-unclear/comment-page-1/#comment-456687 Tue, 02 Jun 2009 12:38:18 +0000 http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/06/01/on-bookstores-last-day-future-is-unclear/#comment-456687 Sounds like the General Motors of bookstores – poorly run, not selling what people want, not changing with the times. In massive debt. I don’t want to own GM and I don’t want to contribute to prop up any failing business under these circumstances.

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By: Adrian In England http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/06/01/on-bookstores-last-day-future-is-unclear/comment-page-1/#comment-456669 Tue, 02 Jun 2009 11:08:11 +0000 http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/06/01/on-bookstores-last-day-future-is-unclear/#comment-456669 We should keep these bookshops open. They come in handy. I once brought a book on camouflage, put it down now I can’t find it.

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By: jerry http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/06/01/on-bookstores-last-day-future-is-unclear/comment-page-1/#comment-456643 Tue, 02 Jun 2009 04:23:25 +0000 http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/06/01/on-bookstores-last-day-future-is-unclear/#comment-456643 Reply to #1: We agree on all the basics. I love books and bookstores and this city that appreciates what Jane Jacobs called the “sidewalk ballet.” But I also love the Internet and saving 40 percent online. (Sadly, I have no love for formula NIMBY featurettes pretending to be journalism, but that’s another story.)

In the same year you got your MBA and I got my BS, IBM and MS-DOS gave us the PC, unemployment hit 10% and the USSR shot down KAL007. Times change, we gotta preserve what we can, and keep adapting. (Some day journalism will catch up, or not.)

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By: Sinclair http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/06/01/on-bookstores-last-day-future-is-unclear/comment-page-1/#comment-456637 Tue, 02 Jun 2009 03:49:33 +0000 http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/06/01/on-bookstores-last-day-future-is-unclear/#comment-456637 I reluctantly have to agree with gem. I spoke with the owner on several occasions and visited it occasionally. From the beginning, the prognosis was grim. The owner apparently believed that lining the shelves with a hand-me-down collection of obsolete psychology, self-help and mystery stories would encourage repeat business.

For quite some time, before the “collectible” store replaced it, the downstairs, a large space, was dedicated to the single biggest collection of no-longer-current computer books, from which once could learn about old editions of almost any program. What an archive!

I simply hope that Columbia does not infer from this, that a bookstore in that location is not viable. If it does, that would be a major disservice to the community.

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