Quote:
Originally Posted by MV64
EDIT: I never thought about the collapse of big book industries leading to a thriving of small bookstores.
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That's because it wouldn't lead to a thriving of small bookstores. It would lead to smaller bookstores, or no bookstores at all.
Big bookstores are fairly recent innovations in much of the US, and for most of the US they were unreservedly wonderful. 98% of the time, they didn't supplant smaller independent bookstores because there weren't any. What they did was provide a fantastic alternative to Waldenbooks and other small mall bookstores. If they leave, I suppose Waldenbooks may have a resurgence, but since the market for bookstores will be even tougher for independents than it used to be, I don't see them thriving: I'm not sure if existing ones will be able to continue to survive, even.