How many bookstores have closed

On social media. Who are we? Fight the Fake. Page not found. On March 15, she abruptly closed her stores in the middle of the day. Independent bookstore owners dug deep into their wells of creativity and passion and found ways to transform their businesses to cope with Covid But even so, according to the American Booksellers Association ABA , 35 member bookstores have closed during the pandemic, with roughly one store closing each week.

Twenty percent of independent bookstores across the country are in danger of closing, the ABA says. The individual grants it gives out have increased percent over last year. A number of bookstores shut their doors voluntarily before any government lockdowns were imposed.

Closing off browsing meant a seismic shift in bookstore business models. Louis, Missouri, were fully stocked with newly released books in March. Still, owners pivoted as quickly as they could. Owners suddenly found themselves arranging curbside pickups, shipping thousands of online orders, and staging completely virtual events.

Many factors boosted sales just when stores needed them. Customers flooded online ordering systems, many in the hope of helping their local stores, others simply desperate for something to read during lockdown. Amazon started prioritizing essential goods over things like books, giving an edge to independent stores. Then the Black Lives Matter protests over the death of George Floyd took off, prompting another deluge of purchases as readers were eager to get their hands on books about race and racism.

The switch to online and curbside ordering saved bookstores from ruin. She would hang bags of books on their doors, ring the bell, and walk back to her car. She even drove an hour and a half out of town to bring books to a couple who would leave her snack bags in thanks. In many ways, online ordering is the antithesis of what independent bookstores are. So it's not surprising that a number of previously successful book retailers have shuttered over the past decade or so. These booksellers underwent downturns that don't all follow the same playbook, but, in the end, they all closed.

Founded in in Texas, Bookstop grew rapidly across the country by offering customers bargains on books. In , Kmart stepped in and bought Borders and merged the bookseller with its previous acquisition, Waldenbooks, the New York Times reported.

The acquisition quickly fell apart that same year, and Kmart dispensed with its book division. Independent once more, Borders continued to expand under the new name Borders Group, according to Reuters. Financial struggles and the rise of e-commerce hurt Borders, and by , the business had stopped earning a profit. In , Borders applied for bankruptcy and ultimately liquidated its surviving locations.

Founded in Maryland in , Crown Books cemented a reputation for discounts. Founder Robert Haft borrowed money from his father, Herbert, in order to launch the fast-growing chain, which began popping up all around the country in subsequent years.

The Baltimore Sun reported that Herbert attempted to wrest control of the company from his son, who subsequently filed suit. Indie bookstores avoid the worst — so far — from pandemic.

While association CEO Allison Hill and others had feared that hundreds of stores could go out of business during the holiday season, the ABA so far has only tallied 14 closings in , along with more than 70 last year.

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