Bookman's Alley is closing

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/ct-met-bookmans-alley-1218-20111218,0,1...

It's a shame. I understand why, but it would have been nice if he'd brought in a younger partner a while back who could have taken over, as happened with O'Gara & Wilson's.

I was in there a couple of weeks ago, and that sure seemed to be in the air. Yes, sad.

A shame indeed. I will say, however, that the gentleman's prices were just absurd; this is certainly not 1990 anymore and booksellers do not have the luxury of just naming their price and hoping people will pay for it. It is a competative market, and unfortunately, the proprieter, like may before him, stubbornly refused to engage online sellers.

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I'm not sure what you mean by "engage online sellers"? He didn't buy books online? But he certainly didn't lack for inventory. I agree that his pricing was often not competitive; but it is a delightful shop, and he extended me credit on sight. I was interested in a lovely copy of Salammbo, and didn't have much cash in my pocket to pay the (in this case, perfectly reasonable) price. He wouldn't accept plastic, but said: "Take the book, here's my card. Come back and pay me later, or mail me a check."

He outright refused to do business online. He thought it was impersonal (which it can be) and that it gave the customer too much power in determining what a book's "true value" was. Though his business practices are clearly anachronistic, your experience with him shows that there there is a virtue to the old way of doing business, with the gentleman's handshake and the like. There is probably a good balance to be had.

Sigh. Kept telling myself I'd visit since I'd only been as an undergraduate, at which time I lacked both the means and appreciation to acquire any of his titles. I guess I have a couple more months to make good on my promise to myself.

Too bad. This used to be a Father's Day stop for this Chicagoan. It's quite a store.

Oh, I am so saddened to hear about the loss of any bookshop, this was a lovely one.

So sad, it's a great shop and it was always a stop when we were in Evanston.

It would appear that Bookman's Alley's inventory is going to Leslie Hindman auctioneers. His collection of autographs goes on sale 4April