Last year as part of my posts about mystery bookstores I have visited I put up a post about the “M” is for Mystery Bookstore in San Mateo , California San Francisco
Unfortunately, “M” is no more. Owner, Ed Kaufman, closed the store in January of this year. While another bookstore, Third Avenue Bookstore, will occupy the space it is sad that “M” is gone.
Ed said that he had been a lawyer for 41 years and then a bookstore owner for 16 years. At 81 it was time for him to stop owning the store.
It was obvious even from meeting Ed for only a couple of times that he loved books and loved authors.
It is ironic that the store is being awarded a Raven Award at The Edgars banquet next month.
I wish I was writing about the opening of a new mystery bookstore.
What a shame Bill but a least it is being replaced by another bookshop. Here shops disappear and are replaced by cafes (usually Starbucks).
ReplyDeleteBill - That is very sad news. Interesting, well-run and inviting bookstores are hard to come by and it's a shame this one is closing. An unfortunate trend...
ReplyDeleteThat's really sad, Bill. I remember the Murder One bookshop on Charing Cross Road, which was the last specialist mystery bookshop in London. The last time I visited, it was about to close down so I picked up some bargains, with a sad heart.
ReplyDeleteIn the town where I live, there is one bookshop (a chain). When I first moved here, 20 years ago, there were 8 independent bookshops and two chains, one of which had two branches and the other, one.
Some people are critical of the charity Oxfam, which in the UK has bookshops to sell on donated books. I am not one of those critics, for at least the Oxfam bookshop in my town means that we have two bookshops. (Admittedly, the Oxfam shop is kept full by my donations!)
Sarah: Thanks for the comment.
ReplyDeleteIt is no longer often a bookstore is replaced by a bookstore.
The world already has all the Starbucks cafes needed.
Margot: Thanks for the comment.
ReplyDeleteThe closing of bookstores is indeed a sad trend.
Maxine: Thanks for commenting.
ReplyDeleteI was startled and depressed that London has not a single mystery bookstore.
I am grateful your personal reading keeps the Oxfam store going. It demonstrates your good taste in books that they can sell the books donated by you.
In our community the local library, of which I have been a board member for over 30 years, makes thousands of dollars a year by the sale of donated books. I cannot say that my contributions keep the library going.
Bill, quite a few old bookshops have closed down in Bombay to be replaced by new and swanky outlets selling everything except books. The new bookstores with games and video games, leather goods, music, and stationery thrown in just don't measure up to the charm of the old bookshops. I miss the smell and feel of books as I have known it.
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ReplyDeletePrashant: Thanks for the comment. You express beautifully a sad reality that is obviously worldwide. The new bookstores are not really for book lovers.
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