I hate it when this happens and it's happen more than once over the last 12 years I've lived in Los Angeles.
(a small example of just one of our many bookshelves)I hate, despise, loathe, and feel punched in the stomach when the family and I are walking towards an old friend expecting to see it's warmth radiating and friendly, just waiting for us and instead we are greeted with an empty store window. Another bookstore closed. Yet, it's not just "any other bookstore". It's a bookstore that has been around almost as long as I have. It opened December 1974. I was two months old and living on the East Coast. I wouldn't discover the store until fast forward 21 years later and I am a Newly wed living in Los Angeles with my husband who turned me on to the bookstore. Sadly, Other Times Bookstore in West Los Angeles is no more. David, Tristan and I found that out last night. We hadn't been there in about 3 months. Ya know it's hard to get around when you don't have a car except for on weekends. I couldn't believe it when I saw the shop empty except for a single box of books and several bookshelves. WHAT?!?! I thought of what the owner, Andy Dowdy, had told me a couple of years ago when he wrote the name of the store and all of it's info (including store hours) on an index card for me. He said "I'm here Tuesday through Saturday. If I'm not here, call the police." There goes my chance to buy the Henry Miller watercolor book that I was lusting after. There goes many a Tuesday afternoon spent browsing (and buying) in the shop. There goes our weekly trips to Pico. I'll miss the bookstore. There aren't too many like this one around. Andy knew his stuff and knew his stock. We never said much to him (hubby and I are the quiet type) but I did enjoy listening in on conversations about books to his friends and customers.
Thank you Andy!David looked up online last night to find out what happened to the store, as we were worried about Andy. Thankfully, he is okay and living in Seattle. At least he has found a new home and his books have found a new home at Powells.
Yes, we still have Gene de Chene and Alias bookstores (Thank God) but like a sign of the times, Other Times bookstore is gone. We've lost too many friends (both living and brick and mortar) this month. C'mon folks, support the Mom and Pops before they're all gone and we're stuck with big ass, boring chain stores with nothing unique to offer. And yes, David and I did take a wee bit of solace after finding Other Times closed by rushing to Gene de Chene and Alias to make sure that yes, phew, they were still there.
Comments
Have you seen this?
http://www.rarebookman.com/soldshop.html
You can but a book store with all it's content for under $400,000.
I think that's only for the merchandise. The emotional, sociological, psychological sides are priceless!
Dorit
What sad news about your bookstore. When I was growing up in L.A., there were dozens of unique, out-of-the way used bookstores carrying the most delightful stock. I sadly watched them close one by one, taken over by the likes of Crown Books (remember them?), Walden, Borders, and B&N. With the closing of the independents, there are so many treasures that people will never be able to discover serendipitously. Buying on line or at the chain stores simply does not have the magic of the old stores. Is "Acres of Books" in Long Beach still there? That was one monster of a store (although I was horrified I would be in there during an earthquake!).
Sally
sawhite1@aol.com