The loss of brick and mortar stores

Local books stores have had to change to survive with many becoming more specialized stores or by having a selection of vintage books. Some have looked for the help of the community to stay open. 

Borderlands Books is a 25-year-old specialty store that carries science fiction, fantasy, horror and mystery books. They have a large collection of new and used books. 

The store was originally located in the Mission District and now is located in a temporary location within the Height as they wait for their final location within the same street. 

The Borderlands was planning to close back in 2015 because of the increase of cost of operations. This was a combination of the increase of the minimum wage and slowing down of sales. 

In the 2020 Census Retail Trade Survey there has been a decrease in book store sales 31% from 2019 to 2020 showing the decrease of sales within this sector. 

They were able to stay afloat because of a sponsorship program, where 300 people would buy a $100 sponsorship. They were able to get their 300 person goal in less and then 48 hours and obtained a total of 832 sponsorships. 

“People were really excited about it,” said Jude Feldman, General Manager for Boarderland’s Books since 2001. “Basically gave us that money just so that we could keep exciting.”

Feldman also explained that they do whatever possible to give back to the sponsors from at cost book sales to free books. 

For them they see the fall of Borders and the lackluster persformes of Barnes & Nobles as the results of directly competing with Amazon. 

“If you have a particular focus you can just be the best at that thing,” said Feldman.

There have been many stores closing their doors in recent years from large companies such as Bed Bath & Beyond to smaller local businesses such as Samy’s Camera. 

Many of these closures have been because of the changing times of online shopping with Amazon being the largest player in the market. 

Amazon has had a growth of 27% in their stocks in the last five years, according to Robin Hood, and has been getting into new sectors of commerce within the last years. This is from buying Whole Foods in 2017 and Audible in 2008. 

Even though Amazon has a stronghold in the online market, many of the Whole Foods locations have been clousing within San Francisco. 

This giant in the industry started selling books with Borders and Barnes & Nobles being its largest competitors at the time. 

Borders ceased operations in 2011 and Barnes & Nobles has been clousing locations throughout the US, with the Corte Madera location closing its doors this year. 

“I think that our niche has always been an advantage from the beginning,” said Feldman.