The Indie Bob Spot

Tuesday, October 21, 2014

Book Court - Brooklyn, NY

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Book Court is located in the Cobble Hill area of Brooklyn on, ironically, Court St. This place has been here for 30 years and it shows. Its organized, neat, and well maintained. Business as usual here for that period of time is a great recipe for success

Independent bookstores located in this area are so fortunate since this is a literary hub. Book Court takes advantage of this with author events held on almost a daily basis. The day of my visit there was a children's author here, David Gothard. Lots of kids and families here and they have a nice children's section to accommodate that part of their customer base. The other advantage this indie has over so many others is its location. Indies located in the NYC area have the good luck to be located in densely populated areas. It wasn't always that way at Book Court but it sure is now. There's even a Barnes & Noble just down the street which doesn't seem to faze business here.

I didn't get to meet Henry, the owner, on this day but I did get to meet Lauren, one of the managers, and visit with her. She told me a little bit about the store and its history. The business here is well supported and largely local. They also get good business traffic from out-of-towners and tourists. I think this store knows its customer base and caters well to them. Books are able to provide most of the profit here as there are very few sidelines. The store itself is an expansive, one-level store. When you get into the main part of the store there is plenty of space to move around and browse. This is also the area where they hold author events and it is large enough to accommodate big crowds on site.

If you haven't been to Brooklyn I strongly recommend a visit. Lots to see and many diverse restaurants and shops. Book Court is part of those diverse offerings and you won't want to pass up a chance to check out this wonderful independent bookstore. Go to an indie and buy a book. Bonsoir.

RECENTLY FINISHED: The Daughters Of Mars, Thomas Keneally. WWI epic (long). Liked it, didn't love it. Slow read but it is pretty good. Two sisters from Australia serving as nurses. Not a cheery read.

CURRENTLY READING: Hyperbole and a Half, Allie Brosh. Just started and it's hilarious.

RECENTLY PURCHASED: How Should A Person Be, Sheila Heti.

Book Court from across the street.

I would've gladly sat on these benches outside of Book Court if it hadn't been raining.

View right inside the front door. This is the "right" side of the store. The larger area is to the left.

View to the right upon entering the store.

A few of the best sellers here at Book Court.

This is the left side of the store and this is looking to the front of the building, the left, and the children's section.

Some touristy sidelines.

This is the "left" side of the store looking toward the rear. Author events are held in the rear. Very roomy.

If there's a line at the checkout you can sit and wait here and get a start on your book.

Author events held here.

Looking from the rear of the store toward the front.

A great display of staff picks.

Some of the sidelines here at Book Court.

Have a seat and sample a book.

One of the Book Court staffers on the left, Lauren, one of the managers in the center, and yours truly.

Saturday, October 18, 2014

Crawford Doyle Booksellers - New York, NY

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After today's visit to Crawford Doyle Booksellers, I fully realize that if I do this gig long enough I'll see everything. I recognized one of the employees here and knew exactly when and where I met him. On a previous visit to NYC I went to Shakespeare & Co. Booksellers on Lexington. While there I met Chris and Ken, two great people to talk to on my visit. Today in Crawford Doyle Booksellers, I saw Chris working at this bookstore. What the? Is this guy everywhere? Is he some kind of super-hero bookseller? What an incredible coincidence and even more unbelievable, he remembered me from my trip to Shakespeare. It's kind of like always seeing Willie Mays in a Giants uniform but then all of a sudden you see him in a Mets uniform (sorry Mets fans, I just can't go there). But I digress, the bottom line in this post is to understand a bit more about a great indie on the Upper Eastside.

I would've never found out about this place if it hadn't been for Nick at The Corner Bookstore, a few blocks north of this one. It's always amazing to me how bookstores recommend to me other bookstores to visit. This is a quaint, small bookstore with high shelves all the way around. It's essentially a one-level bookstore, but there are books on a small upper level and in the basement. The books in these areas belong to private individuals who rent the space to sell their books. Sort of bookstores within a bookstore. They have a great inventory in this indie and also have collectibles, vintage books, and 1st editions available for collectors or as gifts. The business here is very good and has been under the current ownership for 19 years. There's been some kind of bookstore here since the 1960s and previous to the current ownership it was Burlington Books. Business is so good that they have little to no sidelines. It also helps that they have great local support and are in a hight profile location on Madison Ave.

This bookstore is actually named for the owners, Crawford and Doyle. The bad news is that I didn't get to meet them today but the great news was that I got to meet and visit with Tom, the manager, Anne-Marie, and Chris. I knew Chris was great to talk to and Tom and Anne-Marie were as well. I'm so lucky when I get to talk to staffers and like so many of my visits, the ones here couldn't have been nicer.

Anyone who's been in business for 19 years has some things figured out. Crawford Doyle Booksellers and their staff have things figured out. Put them on your list and pay them a visit. You'll see exactly what I'm talking about. Go to an indie and buy a book. Bonsoir.

CURRENTLY READING: The Daughters Of Mars, Thomas Keneally. It's long. I'm almost there.

RECENTLY PURCHASED: 10:04, Ben Lerner.

Great exterior picture of Crawford Doyle Booksellers on the Upper Eastside of Manhattan.

View just inside the front door. I love the look of this store and the high shelves all the way around.

View inside the door looking to the right.

Not many sidelines here but you can find some greeting cards.

Sit here and read a book. Or do your homework. Or serve your time-out.

The rear of the bookstore.

Looking down on the main floor toward the front door.

Anne-Marie and Thomas, two of the fine people here at Crawford Doyle.

"People, places people, this is our photo shoot."

"Good grief this Indie Bob dude is driving us nuts!"

Ann-Marie on the left, Thomas, the manager, and yours truly. Thanks for a great visit to a great indie!

Wednesday, October 15, 2014

The Corner Bookstore - New York, NY

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If you picture the stereotypical, big city, corner bookstore, this place is aptly named. This is a small, one-level independent located on the Upper Eastside of Manhattan. On the week day afternoon of my visit this place was busy, energetic, and happenin'. I have a feeling this was business as usual. Here at The Corner Bookstore, its been business as usual for 36 years. After talking to Nick, the manager, I see no reason why this great indie can't enjoy continued success for years to come.

This place is a classic, square-roomed bookstore. Very neat and well organized. Business is going well here, according to Nick. It's going so well that they offer very few sidelines and are able to do quite nicely just selling books. They have great local support and there are many schools nearby so that definitely helps their business. This indie has the advantage of being located in a densely populated urban area, something that few other indies are able to claim. With that advantage and their great staff, that's a recipe for a successful bookstore.

This store also offers free delivery throughout most of the Upper Eastside. A great perk for busy locals or homebound individuals. They have a children's section right in the middle of the store and it really makes a perfect kids' fort with the surrounding book shelves. The Corner Bookstore is active with many author events as well and can easily clear out the center of the store to create a great area for these events.

Nick was great to meet and talk to, especially since they were so busy during my visit. Before this property became a bookstore 36 years ago, it was a pharmacy. Much of the original "guts" of that business are still here. For you cat lovers, this indie is home to a cat. Located on very busy Madison Ave., I would worry about the cat slipping out the front door but Nick says the cat has no interest in that.

So if you live on the Upper Eastside of Manhattan and haven't visited this store, you're making a big mistake. Heck, you don't even have to get off your butt to buy a book there since they offer free delivery! Make a point to visit this gem and enjoy a great time at a terrific bookstore with a great staff. Go to an indie and buy a book. Bonsoir.

CURRENTLY READING: The Daughters Of Mars, Thomas Keneally. Still plugging away.

RECENTLY PURCHASED: My Brilliant Friend, Elena Ferrante. Looks good but into the pile it goes to wait its turn.

A great display in the left front window.

Just inside the front door looking toward the rear. What you see is what you get.

Inside the front door looking to the right.

Have a seat here at the front of the store and try out a book.

Not many sidelines here but they do have some greeting cards.

Inside the front door looking to the left. The center area surrounded by short bookshelves is the children's section. I would totally make this my fort if I were a little guy!

This is looking from the rear of the store to the front entrance on Madison Ave.

Technologically compatible cash register? Uh, no. 100 year old cash register ready to take your purchase.

Nick, the manager on the left and yours truly. Another great indie on my journey and another great visit. Thanks, Nick.

Monday, October 13, 2014

Idlewild Books - New York, NY

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Tastes great or less filling? Breath mint or dinner mint? Bookstore or foreign language school? It doesn't matter because this place is both. Just when I think I've seen it all on my journey, then I come to a place like Idlewild Books and the mold is broken once again.

Everywhere I go people continue to give me suggestions of more independent bookstores to visit. When I visited Black Dog & Leventhal Publishers, Becky K. was no different and strongly suggested I walk a couple blocks down the street to visit Idlewild Books. How fitting that I came here and found a bookstore where travel, especially international travel, is very much the central theme. Travel guides and books for anywhere you want to visit or learn about. Mixed in with these are books of fiction and non-fiction, all arranged by region and country. If travel is your thing or in your future, I cannot recommend this store highly enough. I think you can find a travel book with information from any country in the world.

So that's it Indie Bob, travel books and themes? Here's the kicker here at Idlewild. Very few sidelines of any kind, so their profit margin is enhanced by offering a very extensive schedule of foreign language classes. Spanish, French, Italian, Arabic, and German are all offered here. The classes run for 8 weeks and are very reasonably priced under $300. A variety of levels are offered depending on your proficiency. These are the sidelines at this indie. Oh how I wish a bookstore near me would have a program like this. If I were a New Yorker I'd be all over this. And once in the store to attend a class, they may browse and buy a book. Nice, very nice. Citizens of Gotham, I command you to learn that foreign language you've always wanted to learn. Take your son or daughter and go together for a great experience.

I didn't get to meet David, the owner, or Marcel, on this trip, but I did have a great time talking to Felipe, one of the staffers here. I always hate to see bookstores without customers but during my visit it gave me lots of time to visit with Felipe. He told me all about the store and its brief 6 year history. LIke other indie staffers I get to visit with on my trips, he couldn't have been nicer and more generous with his time. He also gave me numerous additional suggestions for other bookstores to see. Just like my unread book pile, I also have unvisited bookstores waiting for a visit. One more reason to keep traveling to NYC.

You'll always have lots to do when you visit NYC. Mais, parlez-vous Français? I didn't think so. Go to Idlewild and let it change how you view a bookstore. Go to an indie and buy a book. Bonsoir. I mean, guten nacht, or really buona sera.

CURRENTLY READING: The Daughters of Mars, Thomas Keneally.

RECENTLY PURCHASED: Notes From An Accidental Band Geek, Erin Dionne. Pretty sure I'll like this one. England Under Hitler, Comer Clarke.

Another exterior view. I'm a little bothered by the neighboring business, B&N Hardware. Really? B&N? Could this be a mole monitoring independent bookstores??!! Curious indeed.