Barnes and (not so) Noble Part 2

The BBQ Pit
1

Some time ago, I posted a bitch about Barnes & Noble opening a new store in my local mall and forcing Waldenbooks out even though they (WB) had been in the mall since it opened in 1969 (or thereabouts). Most replies were to B&N’s side. While your comments were certainly valid and even I must admit that, if it were the other way around, I would be bitching about WB kicking out B&N. Well, I go to the mall today to kill some time while waiting for my wife and guess what? Not has WB been kicked out, but also:

B. Dalton (a subsidiary of B&N, so no loss, really)
Sun Coast Video
Record Town
Wherehouse Music (who had just taken over the Blockbuster chain)

Now, I’m all for free enterprise, but c’mon!! Is B&N so afraid of competition that they must destroy ALL competition in a mall?

Of course, a finger must be pointed at the whore, excuse me, mall official who allowed this deal to happen. I hope the whore, excuse me, official chokes on his/her bonus and/or kickback for this deal. I’ll be going to Books-A-Million or 5 miles down the road to the other mall where WB is still around (but for how long?)

2

Well, don’t feel too sorry for Waldenbooks. They are part of the Borders, Bretano’s, and Coopersmith (I think I remember that last one correctly) conglomerate.

Somewhere a Borders has run B. Dalton out of a mall. It all evens out, I’m sure.

Now, if you want to talk about the demise of the independent bookseller, well, that’s a damn shame. Thank God for antiquarian bookstores. That’s where you’ll have more fun anyway if you have a place in your heart for older books.

3

I like used bookstores, too. There’s only one or two here, but there’s a few used paperback “traders”. I go to them several times a year and usually end buying something unusual.

4

Yeah, like a little furry creature that you shouldn’t get wet or feed after midnight…

5

I am sorry. Mogwi not for sale.