Downtown Bookstore

[OKCisOK4me]

On topic of a downtown grocery store, why is there no downtown bookstore? Something to pass the time? I went downtown last night for a friend's birthday and I got there awfully early. Not just for me but the residents of downtown, why there is no bookstore is beyond me.

I remember in the 1980s there was a newsstand inside of the Century Center Mall. My stepmom cut hair down there at the time and I remember going to the newsstand to look at magazines and what not to pass the time. There was hardly any downtown residential presence then, yet there was at least a newsstand.

My point is, like with the potential of a grocery store, you have to travel at least 5 to 8 miles to get to either of these types of businesses. I'd love to see a Full Circle Bookstore go in or something like that. Doesn't have to be a Barnes and Noble or a Half Priced Books. Obviously the #1 answer is going to be because there's not enough density yet to support a local location but I think it should be considered if it's not already on the drawing board.

[Spartan]

Taylor's.

[ljbab728]

I understand that many people love bookstores but it seems to me that bookstores, in the traditional sense, seem to be going the way of the dodo bird.

[hoya]

There is a VERY SMALL announcement coming on this topic soon. If you catch my drift.

I think I do.

Ladies and gentlemen, we are getting a bookstore run by a midget.

[kevinpate]

nah, it's a Kindle Kiosk.

[LandRunOkie]

I think an educational co-op would be a suitable alternative. Its kind of an uphill struggle to sell enough books to pay rent.

[bchris02]

Unfortunately bookstores, like electronics stores, are struggling to compete with online competition. If done right though, something could work.

[dankrutka]

A bookstore could double as a coffee shop/deli. The latter will have to bring in a lot of the money... The Vagabond in Wichita is a neat concept. It's a coffe place that doubles as a bar. One table will be a couple people studying and the next a few people having a drink. I could see adding books to the equation. Anyway, bookstores are likely going to have to sell something else to succeed, but that could also make them more interesting.

[OKCisOK4me]

Oh yeah, and by no means would I expect a massive bookstore downtown. Just a small space bookstore with a cafe would be a concept downtown could use. I'm still not a fan of reading e-books or whatever. I like the hardcopy. Surely there are more people that would agree on that.

[zookeeper]

I'm probably stating the obvious, but one of the most valuable things a person can have in their pocket is a library card. We've got a great library downtown. As for the smallish bookstore idea, I like it and hope that it can happen.

[OKCisOK4me]

If you're bad with returning things, a library card is not such a good idea, lol...

[jn1780]

If you're bad with returning things, a library card is not such a good idea, lol...

Still cheaper than buying new books even with late fees. Unless of course someone just browses and hangout at the bookstore, but that's one of the reasons they struggle to make it anymore. lol

[dankrutka]

Oh yeah, and by no means would I expect a massive bookstore downtown. Just a small space bookstore with a cafe would be a concept downtown could use. I'm still not a fan of reading e-books or whatever. I like the hardcopy. Surely there are more people that would agree on that.

I still buy books because I read a lot of old, random books that I can get used for $2 plus shipping. It's usually cheaper than buying an e-book version. If its more than $5 I check it out from the campus library. With Interlibrary Loan I can get pretty much any article or book within 2-10 days. We've come a long way since the printing press.

[Just the facts]

On this subject, the former CEO of Barnes and Noble wants to buy the retail division and take it private. I hope he pulls it off. Getting Wall Street out of the equation would be the best thing that ever happened to B&N.

Barnes & Noble Chairman Leonard Riggio to Bid for Its 689 Stores - NYTimes.com

I only buy physical books and hardback if it is available. Last week I did something I thought I would never do - I took my own book to B&N and read while I drank a Starbucks and ate a piece of cake.

[ThomPaine]

On this subject, the former CEO of Barnes and Noble wants to buy the retail division and take it private. I hope he pulls it off. Getting Wall Street out of the equation would be the best thing that ever happened to B&N.

Barnes & Noble Chairman Leonard Riggio to Bid for Its 689 Stores - NYTimes.com

I only buy physical books and hardback if it is available. Last week I did something I thought I would never do - I took my own book to B&N and read while I drank a Starbucks and ate a piece of cake.

Hipster. ;-)

[kevinpate]

It is a fine library indeed. I've enjoyed it several times when I have come in on the bus and ended up with some free time before taking the bus back to Norman in the afternoon. Probably the only real advantage of the noonish bus run no longer existing.

[Just the facts]

I only buy physical books and hardback if it is available. Last week I did something I thought I would never do - I took my own book to B&N and read while I drank a Starbucks and ate a piece of cake.

Hipster. ;-)

I said 'cake' not pastry. Also, I drove there in a pickup. When I get there via a Segway scooter and order the cream cheese danish - then I will be a hipster.

Anyhow, in addition to bringing my own book I also bought one while I was there so I guess providing a 'hang out' space paid off a little bit.

[flintysooner]

As a reader I can't imagine returning to printed books. It does surprise me to read so many enthusiastic posts about print in this thread.

I can imagine a store for collectible books but even so I can't conjure anything but financial loss.

But I've been wrong before.

[Rover]

I think the 1/2 Price store at 63 and May does pretty well and has a great selection. It looks like something that might fit the Btown, AA, Midtown or 23rd St. area pretty well. Not too big and not a huge overhead. Fixtures that would look good in a warehouse or semi industrial space. Maybe they should be recruited. They can do books, DVDs, music, etc...buy and sell.

[HangryHippo]

I think the 1/2 Price store at 63 and May does pretty well and has a great selection. It looks like something that might fit the Btown, AA, Midtown or 23rd St. area pretty well. Not too big and not a huge overhead. Fixtures that would look good in a warehouse or semi industrial space. Maybe they should be recruited. They can do books, DVDs, music, etc...buy and sell.

Yep, I think something like that would work very well in one of the buildings downtown.

[LandRunOkie]

I'm probably stating the obvious, but one of the most valuable things a person can have in their pocket is a library card. We've got a great library downtown. As for the smallish bookstore idea, I like it and hope that it can happen.

I'm thinking more of a vocational Fight Club.

[OKCisOK4me]

It is a fine library indeed. I've enjoyed it several times when I have come in on the bus and ended up with some free time before taking the bus back to Norman in the afternoon. Probably the only real advantage of the noonish bus run no longer existing.

And how long is the Norrick Library open til?

First thing about downtown is businesses staying open late. Not all of them but some of them, like restaurants. 11pm sounds like a start...not 9pm.

Again, it all comes down to downtown density which will change as more residential units are put into the core. Kinda sad that if you want to go to a real bookstore or a sizable grocery store like Target, that you have to travel farther than necessary. Guess that's what the pioneers get!

As far as print books... I have a friend, he has an Ipad and he doesn't use it to read books. Why? He enjoys holding a book and he isn't anti tech. So there are plenty out there like him that these services can still be made available to.

[hoya]

It's hard for bookstores to survive because the number of people who buy books is already relatively limited. Now you are cutting out a certain percentage of those buyers because they just download ebooks. If you need 10,000 customers to be successful, and you have 11,000, if even 10% of those customers stop buying print books and go entirely to Kindle, you're down to 9900 customers and are in the red. Not saying it can't work, but it's in the same category as record stores now, i.e., businesses I wouldn't want to start.

As more people get downtown we'll get more variety of business and places will stay open later.

[kevinpate]

And how long is the Norrick Library open til?
...

Monday	9:00 am – 9:00 pm
Tuesday	9:00 am – 9:00 pm
Wednesday	9:00 am – 9:00 pm
Thursday	9:00 am – 9:00 pm
Friday	9:00 am – 6:00 pm
Saturday	9:00 am – 5:00 pm
Sunday	1:00–6:00 pm

(according to google. Never by there in the evening so I did not have a clue. Sounds like most library hours to me.)

[zookeeper]

It's sad, but the physical bookstore is becoming an even thinner niche market. That's why in a few years there's no question there will be one somewhere downtown. It's like the back to vinyl thing. It will happen with books someday. There's nothing quite like holding a book or magazine, and I'm a lover of the ebook. There are certain books I just can't imagine having read first on a screen.

I never meant my post reminding people of the great resource at the library to be a "instead of" to a bookstore. The hours at the library, being a public institution, are unfortunately dictated by how much people are willing to pay to support libraries. I'm afraid it's not a priority for many and that's a shame.