Market Street Books at Arts & Letters Community Center, the local independent bookstore and non-profit community center in Southern Village, has announced it will be closing at the end of this month.
The news comes just three months after Market Street Books was awarded the Small Business of the Year honor from the Chapel Hill/Carrboro Chamber of Commerce.
“The primary problem throughout the last eight months has been, as it has for many businesses, the economy,” executive director Michael Lyle said in a release. “Our sales figures during this time have been down an average of 40 percent and that would be sufficient to seriously damage the viability of any business. But none of us could have planned adequately for what has happened to the world's economy.”
For more information, go to www.marketstreetbooks.com.
Comments
out of business
Sat, 04/25/2009 - 17:26 — TheBlotterragBy community, I believe that we can all agree that there are a lot of empty storefronts in Chapel Hill, and it gives the appearance that there is some combination of the bad economy and poorly-thought-out tax rewards to landlords for empty/unused commercial real estate at work here. In any case, many of us will miss having a place to buy a small gift for a friend; sit in the cool, or warm, or dry while drinking a cup of coffee while our children read Dr. Seuss; get help picking out something to read; and the nostalgic feeling that Southern Village (and Chapel Hill) used to have. Starbucks, Subway, and Walmart just don't do it for me. Ah, well.
Vacant properties are taxed
Sat, 04/25/2009 - 19:05 — mchiltonVacant properties are taxed just the same as occupied ones, but I take your point nonetheless.
Hey - change the code
Sat, 04/25/2009 - 13:41 — marcoplosConscious evolution...
Book Stores
Fri, 04/24/2009 - 05:47 — tbucknerThe owner of Market Street Books should be commended for the excellent service she has provided to this community.
I believe this was our last remaining "new" book store in Chapel Hill or Carrboro. Used books are great and I appreciate having those stores available, but it says something about this community that those who do not have easy access to the campus bookstore must now go to Fearrington or Durham to shop for recently published books locally.
Huh?
Sat, 04/25/2009 - 14:44 — mchiltonI really don't see how "it says something about this community."
Blame globalization, the internet, the global financial crisis, or any number of other forces, but don't blame the local community.
People choose where to buy books
Sat, 04/25/2009 - 17:23 — tbucknerThey choose to save a couple of bucks by shopping at Amazon rather than supporting their local book stores. When the bookstores are gone, it means the community has chosen not to value local booksellers. It also means they don't understand economics and the long-term value of keeping their money local whenever possible.
Wasn't the purpose of the Local Living Economy Task Force to help educate people (aka the community) about the value of shopping locally?
It is important to tell
Sat, 04/25/2009 - 19:03 — mchiltonIt is important to tell people about the value of local businesses, but I don't think we should blame consumers for choosing to go with the lowest price. Certainly Market Street Books doesn't seem to be blaming their customers. And in any case, I don't think the situation reflects poorly on our community.
Agree to disagree
Sat, 04/25/2009 - 21:17 — tbucknerWe'll just have to disagree on this one. I think valuing books is an indicator of the health of a community. To me, this is the same issue as those who believe Carrboro needs a full-scale branch library.
I think Carrboro and Chapel
Sat, 04/25/2009 - 21:48 — mchiltonI think Carrboro and Chapel Hill value books highly.
You're right
Sun, 04/26/2009 - 06:45 — tbucknerThey just don't value local booksellers.
Do you put your money where your mouth is?
Sun, 04/26/2009 - 08:56 — ActLocalI, for one don't enjoy the scolding tone of this exchange. I have to wonder how many books Terri bought at Market Street Books, for her to cast others in a negative light.
Quite a few
Sun, 04/26/2009 - 12:33 — tbucknerI also buy from the Regulator and the bookstore at Fearrington, in addition to Bulls Head.
Your screen name is ActLocal. You don't agree that people should buy books from local stores rather than Amazon or Borders?
Sad for Southern Village
Thu, 04/23/2009 - 22:30 — ActLocalIt is sad for the community to lose a tenant who brought interesting diversity to Market Street. The Town of Chapel Hill needs to relent and allow signage on 15-501 to alert drivers to the commercial district that is hidden from their view.
The town imposed design restrictions to make it appear as though nothing existed behind the entrance, by requiring that the single story buildings closeest to 15-501 looked like residences. They dealt the second blow with the over-zealous sign restriction that prevents businesses from announcing their hidden locations. It's as though the town shot these businesses in both legs and then took away their crutches.
On the other hand, it is important to realize that a hotel in three years, after two years of construction related disruption, would not have saved Market Street Books.
Unless the town loosens its ridiculous strangle-hold on these businesses, there will be more losses to individuals as well as to the greater community,
Signs makes sense
Fri, 04/24/2009 - 08:32 — marcoplosI didn't know about that restriction. Certainly aesthetically pleasing signs could be installed on 15-501.
Prohibited by code...
Sat, 04/25/2009 - 11:39 — ActLocalSection 5.14 of the Building Code under "Signs"