Wow, are some of you actually very articulate 5 year olds? I can't believe the whiny comments I've just read. They may as well have read like this, "I want it now, why can't I get anything I want right now? I'll positively die if I have to wait one second more to get what I want! Why can't small independent bookstores cater to my every whim? Why can't they just get more inventory and more space? They should have a cafe, a children's play center, a reading room, a ferris wheel, water park, and anything I may desire from second to second."

Don't want another realtor or cell phone store opening up? Too bad because I sincerely doubt you'll get the business you truly want. Have any of you actually thought to ask store owners to carry products you're interested in? It's not difficult and they may be more receptive than you think. I buy all my books from the Community Bookstore because I like them a million times more than B&N. Any time they didn't have a book I wanted, they ordered it for me. So I had to wait a few days for it, it hasn't killed me yet. Heaven forbid people have to actually wait for something.

Give it a few more years and all these annoying small businesses will die out. Then you'll all be complaining that NY isn't interesting anymore and it looks like a strip mall!

Posted by: caseopele at November 6, 2007 12:17 AM in response to Slope Losing Another Small Bookstore

"I am a long-time resident of the Slope who had stayed away from the store during the long period that it was devoting half its window to posting -- in my view --radical left-wing diatribes. I found them offensive, and didn't want to give my (considerable) book business to a store that gave such a high priority to shrill politicking.
Well, now the diatribes are gone and the store is getting more business -- including some of mine. Am I the only one who sees a connection here?"

Personally, I find Barnes and Noble much more offensive. Let's see, what did B&N do after 9/11? Oh yeah, they closed the store and hung a big American flag in the window. Catherine, on the other hand, provided a meeting place for the community. She posted news in the window, collected donations of supplies, and provided an outlet for people that wanted to help but didn't know how. The Community Bookstore has done more for the community than B&N. But I can see why you'd rather give your "considerable" book business to a corporation that doesn't give 2 figs for the neighborhood.

Posted by: caseopele at February 13, 2008 11:02 PM in response to StreetLevel: Park Slope Bookstore Thriving