wilkes

In the Wilkes area it might fly...IF...there is not a Borders or any other nation chain that sells books...maybe! Many people are buying books on line cheaper that an independent store owner can. The only thing information wise I can offer you is this...in the Chapel Hill/Durham area, there used to be several good book stores..some with coffee shopes included. In came the national chains selling books below what the independents were paying for them. Everyone, with the exception of one has closed..and that one announced it's upcoming closing a couple of months ago.

Now, you go into the chains...they have the books, they have the overpriced coffee and bagels, and they have no atmosphere, no civility from the personel. All that is let are some students doing research, without buying the books.

However, there cheap prices keep them profitable because there is no other place to go.

Good Luck, but be prepared to have a going out of business plan on the back burner. They will be in your area soon. So sad!

I have been talking to my friends about doing the exact same thing! I even have a name picked out, gosh this is very ironic.

Diana's Bookstore in downtown Elkin is similar to what I think you are looking to do. Have you visited that location?

I have a million Ideas about a book store and I would love to share them. I typed them all but it erased my post and I don't want to do it again. But I do believe that it would work if you did it right.

I don't know if it would make it or not, but i would love for Wilkes to have a good book/coffee shop/store!

My husband has wanted to do pretty much this same thing for a while. We even looked at properties back in the summer to see what was available. In many ways, Wilkes really needs something like this, in others, however, a lot of the people here have gotten accustomed to having to go out of town or to the internet for things they need/want (especially if it's after 5 pm!) and so new businesses are often going out of business before they're even heard of.

Please keep us posted if you get this started. We are always looking for new 'haunts'!

Hot chocolate and Borders aside, have you considered that a lot of folks go straight to Goodwill and salvation Army to buy books? I have found all sort from antique leather bound tomes to current best sellers for little more than pocket change.

I'm all for a good coffeeshop/newsstand. I'd much rather patronize your shop instead of driving to Borders on Sunday afternoon for my Sunday New York Times.

But, I wish you the best. Let me know if when you open. If you carry the Times and have a good magazine selection I'll be a regular :)

I have to agree with WaxQueen- old books and coffee/chocolate and late hours would be just the most fun! I'd be there. Good luck.

You know if it was open between 9-11pm that would be the only thing to do in wilkes at that time of night. I always go to barnes and noble at that time after everything else has closed. And you must have good cookies, and great hot chocolate (cause I hate coffee) grove park inn in asheville has the best hot chocolate ever.

That's what I've been thinking!! I'm not in a hurry. And I'm not going to get my hopes up as to when I can make it happenor how profitable it will be. I would like for it to atleast pay for itself. Not make a fortune.

dreams are never silly. Just make sure you can back them up before leaping. There are alot of capital expenses and overhead expendiures to consider, but if it is your dream--save save save until you can do it. Just make sure you are able to sustain the reality of keeping it going.

Think location...location...location. Where in wilkes would this work best? Just an idea but what if it were nearby shopping--during story times kids can be dropped off while mom does her shopping.

Good luck. Dont give up on dreams--set achievable goals and get what you want from life.

Thanks so much for your input. I was thinking along the lines of lots and lots of old antique books. I have always been drawn to quiet little out fo the way corner shops and resturants.I love the atmosphere. The romance of the place. And I must admit, my favorite movie in the world is " You've Got Mail."Every time I watch it I just dream of having a "little shop around the corner" to take my girls to. Maybe it's just a silly dream.

I have been in the used and new bookstore business in Florida...it is alot of fun. But around here in this market it is really hard to say anymore how the area will support it.. your not just competing with BrowseAbout or the one downtown, I can't think of the name of it right now, your competing with amazon.com and ebay and the internet sellers too. you need to do alot of reasearch and keep your overhead really really low in this economy. When gas hits $4.00 a gal. thats when we will really see a difference in the economy...at least in my economy!!!hahaha!!!

I like to think if one has their whole heart in something-they can do anything . But, when going in business-to make a sustainable living-there are numerous things to consider.
There is a little competion locally-not a lot. Many people shop eBay and other online bookstores. Also, can you keep enough product for the demand? Their are many other things to consider as well such as location,rent,taxes,power bill, phone bill, hired help...the list can go on and on.
On the bright side-I love a good little bookstore and would definitely be a patronize your place at times. In these modern times when practically anything can be found online-still there is something special about rummaging through smelly old books to see what can be found.

I am tinkering with the idea of starting a little bookstore. New, used and childrens books. With a small coffe shop inside. Something very small, nothing especially fancy, butsomething I can pass down to my daughters when they're grown. What do you think? Would it make it here?