An independent bookstore owner had this to say:
"Does this herald a renaissance of the independent bookstore?" LaFramboise says of Borders' closing. "Probably not. Put me down in the 'I hope so' category. But stop short of the 'I think so' category."
Most independents have not seen a surge in business since Borders and Waldenbooks started closing all of their stores.
Teicher says that brick-and-mortar stores—whether they are chains or independents—have come to recognize that they have more in common than they did a decade ago, including a shared rival in the form of online bookselling.
Online sales now account for almost half of all book sales, both physical and ebooks. Independents will have to work hard to reap the benefits of Borders closing, and even then, it may be a losing battle.
What do you think? How many bookstores will survive when the sales tip to 80% ebooks in a few years?
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