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About Oregon daily emerald. (Eugene, Or.) 1920-2012 | View Entire Issue (July 25, 2002)
Independent bookstores thrive despite big chains Eugene s smaller bookstores rely on community support in order to compete with larger stores such as Barnes & Noble ByJanMontry Oregon Daily Emerald Seven years ago, Scott Landfield and David Rhodes converted a small warehouse into a bookstore called Tsunami Books, using wood recy cled from old high school and col lege bleachers to create bookshelves. Today, although they love the work, Landfield realizes that own ing a small bookstore in Eugene has its ups and downs. “At least from our point of view, it is very satisfying,” Landfield said, but “we have discovered that in this American world it takes money to make money.” Eugene has a wide variety of small, independently owned book stores, many of which rely on com munity support and a love of books to survive. Peter Ogura, who owns Black Sun Books, said the combination of support makes the business impor tant to him on a personal level. “I really do care a lot about books,” Ogura said. “And I know about books; it’s not just a job for me.” According to Landfield and Ogu ra, the creation of large book chains and “superstores” hasn’t affected their business as much as many may think. Landfield, who deals mostly in used bt>oks, said business at Tsunami actually went up 50 percent after Bor ders opened locally. Landfield attrib utes this increase to his selection of used books and a community spirit that brings loyal readers to his store. “We don’t think in terms of com petition, we think in terms of carv ing a niche,” he said. Landfield and Ogura added that the community spirit and faithful reader base is what makes inde pendent bookstores worth explor ing. The number of independent stores, however, makes it harder to bring in new readers. Owners must worry equally about big chains and other independent stores. “I only strive to be a neighbor hood bookstore,” said Ogura. “It’s Adam Jones Emerald Foolscap Books, located at 780 Blair Blvd., has many rare and discontinued titles. Area Bookstores ♦Nattonaf book drains B. Dalton Gateway Mall 726-0441 Barnes & Noble 1163 Valley River Dr. 687-0356 Bordets Books & Music 5 Oakway Center 345-6072 Waldenbooks Valley River Center 344-9431 * Local independent stores Book Mark 856 Olive St. 484-0512 Book Fair 1409 Oak St. 343-3033 Mother Kali s Books 72G£.13thAve. 343-4864 Smith Family Bookstore 768£,13thAve, 345-1651 525 Willamette St. 343-4717 Tsunami Books 2585 Willamette St. 345- 8986 University of Oregon Bookstore 895 E 13th Ave. 346- 4331 ' ' Foolscap Books 780 Blair Blvd. 681-9212 Black Sun Books 2467 HHyantSt 484-3777 mim imp certainly a challenge for (Eugene’s) population. We have many small, independent bookstores.” Marietta Bonaventur, who owns Foolscap Books and deals mostly in used publications, said independent book businesses give a chance for lo cal authors to get published, and they keep consumers’ money in Eugene. Bonaventur, who plays in a band with Tsunami co-owner David Rhodes, also said many independent bookstores around Eugene rely on each other to sustain themselves. “In this community, it’s really cool that the used bookstores have a dial-up with each other,” she said. Another venue of support for in dependent bookstores comes from University students and professors. Both Landfield and Ogura said they get a lot of support from the college crowd, especially the creative writ ing and philosophy departments at the University. “Mostly it’s a decision by people in (those departments) to support independent bookstores,” said Ogura. “It’s not a big money maker, but it brings new people in.” Contact the reporter at janmontry@dailyemerald.com. 014402 Elf EDI# ********** KbVElf W HHKxlK * > <*PFf*IAI * ' *SMwrWSm%rn mr%m* (non-student, no coupon required) COLLEGE STUDENT SPECIAL (no coupon required) 00 OFF ANY LARGE PIZZA COLLEGE ID REQUIRED NOT VALID WITH ANY OTHER OFFER ALL COLLEGE IDS ACCEPTED FREE DELIVERY 1809 Franklin Blvd. 484-2799 Sun.-Thu. Ham-Midnight Fri.-Sat. 11am-1am 012205 ■ ■■■■■■■■■■■a rm Pwie«to*r STUDIO X Come see what your fellow students are raving about! ★ Best French Toast in Town ★ Great Benedicts ★ Pastas ★ Vegetarian Entrees ★ Salads ★ Burgers ★ Fresh Fish ★ Excellent Mexican Dishes ★ PATIO SEATING ★ 1473 E. 19th (i9(Ji& Agii*) • 342-8596 ■ ■■■■■■■■■■ imimn 014370 tarn Extra ney p2 «N§0 «fo»©rs brtoQ this scf to for an extra _fluenlis Bioservices • Eugene (Formerly Seramed) 1 Block east of 8th and Garfield 1901 West 8th Ave., Eugene 683-9430 also at 225 B Main St. in Springfield A HH-le o-P-P H\e fop. ^ lof le-Pf lv\ H\e wonllef. Trendy and professional haircuts by friendly haircare specialists. Still the Best Still just... $12es Call Ahead Service available at WILLAMETTE SQUARE 2526 Willamette Ave. 683-1405 Open 7 days a week; Mon-Sat 9am - 7pm • Sun 1 Jam - 4pm SUPERCUTS As hip as you want to be.
