another book store chain bites the dust
Book Warehouse to shut doors after 32 years
Book Warehouse, one of Metro Vancouver's largest independent discount book retailers, is closing its four stores.
The decision is being called another blow to B.C.'s independent book store industry, which is facing sharp competition from larger book retailers, Amazon, and e-book sales.
“This is not very good,” said Margaret Reynolds, executive-director of the Association of Book Publishers of B.C. “We keep losing more and more independents.
“Book Warehouse was a general trade bookstore, so it purchased in a wide range of genres [and] had a considerable presence in the city. It was an avenue for literary, general trade and scholarly publishers and offered a wide range of titles.”
Book Warehouse was founded in 1980 and focused on providing bargain books such as overstocks, reprints, slightly damaged books, samples, bankruptcy stock and special imports.
Founder and part-owner Sharman King said their decision to close was not because of economics.
“All our leases are up about the same time and I'm 65 years old,” he said Thursday of his company, which has stores in Vancouver and North Vancouver. “Everything has its time. It's been fun for 32 years. [We said] let's stop it while it's still fun.”
King said partners Tommy Banks and wife Diana King are also getting older and that it was a joint decision to close the stores, which employ 40 people.
If the right buyer came along, he added, they'd consider selling. “We have relationships with people who are in the business of selling businesses. Beyond that, I can't comment.”
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