SurvivingInfidelity.com^®

Man, I miss them.

Where I live now, the city has a reputation for being “chain city” (at least that is what I call it); meaning, the majority of businesses are franchises. Chain restaurants rule, and owner-run restaurants are few and far between. I like supporting the “little guys”. I also like knowing that the guy in the kitchen may be the owner, or the Hostess may be his wife or daughter, or the next time I come in they will ask about my son by name. Not only does the food taste better (to me, anyway), but I like the atmosphere and attention to detail.

Barnes and Noble is “the” bookstore in this town. Sigh. Yes, I go there, but it does not conjure up those same “feel good” experiences I had when living back east, frequenting the Harvard Bookstore in Cambridge, or my small favorite bookstores in upstate NY.

So yesterday I’m visiting Boulder, and discover nine bookstores – all on one street – and the majority of them were Indies. Nirvana! I could have stayed there all day.

Sure, some titles may cost more at the Indies, but the folks who work there are knowledgeable, passionate about books, and OMG, they may even have read some of them! I once encountered a B&N sales person who told me straight out she hates to read, and only works there ‘cuz she needed extra money.

Sigh.

I am back on the indie bookstore train, and rue the day I ever got de-railed. Never again. I’m going to support the booksellers who support their communities; vendors who push their passion – books. It’s a win-win.

Before I got downsized and now make $40K per year less than I did a few years ago, I always shopped at out local indie store. Now I rarely buy books at all, take them from the library but when I do buy it's at B and N or Costco. I do buy gift certificates for presents at the local store.

we've got a nice indie nearby. it started out as a used bookstore and morphed into more as time went on. I don't shop there as much as I should though. but it's great going in there and actually being able to talk about the books and authors I like to read, with people who know what and who I'm talking about.

There aren't any indie book stores in my small town. There used to be one in the city, but has shut down.

I support as many small local businesses as possible, even if it means paying more.

I usually buy most of my books used from Amazon. Plus I use the Amazon link here so SI gets a little money from it.

i live close to Ann Arbor, MI. Which is chock full on indies. But in the last 10 years we have lost more than a few.

My favorite is a Mystery store(Aunt Agatha's) that is beyond fun. They do about half their business in used books. For me that is awesome cuase once I get a series, I like to work it all the way through.

I love being able to have a conversation with someone about my favorites and thay actually have a clue what I am talking about.

But I do still shop at the biggies. Too easy and too close.

Gotta get out to AA again soon.....