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Book Passage
At Risk?

If the pen is mightier than the sword, then maybe e-mail is our “weapon of mass protection” when it comes to creating the community outcry needed to defend our community and our independent bookseller Book Passage against predatory national book chain Barnes and Noble. 

The powerful, nearly unanimous and emotional response to my mention of the subject in my column two weeks ago was without precedent for me.  It has been quite a job keeping up with your expressions of concern and your questions about what can be done.  So here’s what needs to happen.

Support local independently-owned businesses.

First let me say that until recent months, our Town Center has done an excellent job supporting locally-owned businesses.  The addition of Bryan’s Foods was brilliant.  The center’s gourmet food niche will be furthered with the upcoming addition of San Francisco’s own Sur La Table.  But ongoing negotiations with Barnes and Noble is a decided wrong turn in the road, and should be stopped.

Corte Madera’s general plan clearly calls for us to “maintain our small town character” when at all possible. Barnes and Noble does not meet this standard, and the Book Passage clearly does.

Madison Marquette’s (Town Center’s management company) CEO, Amer Hammour, confirmed to me on the phone that Madison was negotiating with Barnes and Noble, but then said that if there was “strong community outcry” Madison might reconsider whether they should move forward with the deal.

Outcry we must. Neighborhood advocates in San Francisco stopped a huge Borders in 1998. Mill Valley recently stopped Starbucks.  Surely we in the Twin Cities can stop this threat to the Book Passage?

If you’re not yet fully convinced of the importance of independent bookstores, just Google “threat to independent bookstores” or “Barnes Ignoble.” Read about how giant chains use their clout to demand special and illegal discounts so that they can undercut independents.  How they raise neighboring rents, forcing other independents out.  How fewer and fewer people are deciding which books gets published, and what we can read and buy.  How over 1000 independent bookstores have closed since 1995. Read the recent study from Chicago which shows that independent businesses support their communities much more, in financial terms.  For every $100 brought in by retailers, independent return $68 to the local community in wages and benefits, purchases of goods and services, and support of charity and community organizations.  For franchises, that number drops to $43 per every $100. Book Passage has been an exempluary supporter of local schools and charitable organizations.

This point in time is a critical juncture for many American towns and we are no exeception. If you still need motivation, check out the book Hometown Advantage: How to Defend Your Main Street Against Chain Stores and Why it Matters.  Buy it at the Book Passage, okay?

By the way, I want to say that Book Passage has not been behind this community outcry in any way. Elaine and Bill are very graciously stepping back and allowing the community to do as it wishes.  They say they have, in the past, attempted good faith negotiations to move into the Town Center, most recently into the new West Elm space.  Perhaps unfortunately for us, they have recently signed a new lease in their current location, after being offered only a very small corner of the new space opening up where Marshall’s lease has been summarily terminated. 

Unfortunately, our Town Council has no legal power in this situation, although we may be able to intercede with planning questions down the road. 

So it’s up to us, the little folk.  Do we care enough?  The turning point is fast approaching when it will be too late to keep local independents in business.  It is up to us -- you, that is -- to take action if we are to going to prevail in the uphill battle to protect what we value.  Here’s who to contact with your thoughts: Stan Hoffman, manager of Town Center  924-2961   Amy Alyeshmerni, leasing manager 310-443-7533 .  Amer Hammour, CEO of Madison Marquette 202-741-3800

Go get ‘em!
Your devoted community watch dog,
Neighbor Pat

pravasio@fhallen.com
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