Urban Think! Bookstore in downtown has an exclamation point after the “think” in its name. Otherwise, I wouldn’t be exclaiming in a headline over the closing of yet another independend bookstore. Yes, the nine-year-old indie in downtown Orlando — specifically, Thornton Park — will pack up shop the end of this month. I heard the news from friends over the weekend, and the e-mail to the store’s customers came today.
The owners cite the financial difficulties of operating in these current economic times, as well as the challenge to brick-and-mortar stores by the way in which people buy and read books in today’s technological climate. To be sure, chain bookstores and CostCos have pushed out many indies over the years, but on-line sales have become the real enemy, even as the stores have fought back with customer service, cafes, book readings, art shows and storytimes. Urban Think!, like many other indies, has succeeded as a convivial neighborhood gathering spot but couldn’t compete with the deep discounts and the ease of point-click sale and delivery.
It’s a sad story being repeated across the country, and I share part of the blame. I always enjoyed going to Urban Think! store events and usually picked up a book or two but not as many as I have ordered over the internet. I did this, even though as an author I know that booksellers, especially independents, are a writer’s best friends.
Caroline Cousins, my other identity, would never have sold as many books if not for locally owned bookstores who hosted book signings and hand-sold multiple copies to customers. Urban Think! joins the increasingly long list of indies who supported Caroline Cousins the last seven years and are no longer in places like Greenville and Aiken, S.C.; Wilmington, N.C.; Atlanta, Ga.; and Gainesville and Mt. Dora, Fl.
Meanwhile, Urban Think! is having a clearance sale. I’ll try to assauge some of my guilt over its closing by opening my wallet. Too little, too late, I know.
On a Clear Day I Can Read Forever 
This breaks my heart. We can’t even support ONE indie bookstore! Urban Think was only a block or two from the kids’ school, so I did enjoy visiting and supporting them. But like you, I have Kindle purchases and impulsive Barnes & Nobles fly-bys as well, which hurts guys like this. A clearance sale huh? I may see you there.
That’s sad to hear…I don’t order much online unless it’s something old that our local independent (Books & Books) wouldn’t have. Still, B&B is a looooong way from where I live; if I want something I try to hold off until I’m going to be near one of their locations. I can’t bear to think of a Miami with just Barnes & Noble.
Urban Think! was definitely a distinctive place that seemed fail-safe–books and beer, how could you go wrong? I, too, have benefited from handsales of my books at indies, and I have watched them disappear one by one of late. Fuit Ilium.
i hate to hear of bookstores closing. i try to limit my online buying to hard-to-find used books, but the truth is it’s just too easy to order other stuff at the same time.
but i love bookstores, and we are blessed in the twin cities with a number of indies. strength to them all, i say.
Thanks all ! It was a noble struggle– we gave it 2000% and I LOVED being associated with such a great store. As manager for almost nine years, I saw a lot– and experienced it all 😉
I will always be grateful to the book people who made Urban Think! your own: would that your curious minds and open pocketbooks had been manifested a thousandfold… ah well !!
It’s on to my next chapter… gonna finish up the writing of my collection of short stories. I blog, too:
http://JimmyBoi2.wordpress.com
Thanks for the memories, Nancy!
xoxox
Jim Crescitelli