Bingowings said:

I don't know.

The big bookshops like Borders initially made it impossible for many of the small bookshops to stay open, supermarkets selling best sellers cut price cut into the big shops market, sites like Amazon etc cut into the markets of both large and small shops.

E-Readers aren't really an issue, the economic downturn the increased costs in keeping large buildings open, maintaining and transporting stock and staffing them coupled with the uptake in internet sales are more key (it has the same effect on DVDs, music and games).

With the large bookshops out of the way maybe the smaller shops will have a better chance to provide something different than just best sellers.

People still like the physical shopping experience and still like physical books and small shops are cheaper to run especially on the now largely abandoned high streets of where I'm living.

Totally agree with you here. I've felt for the longest time that large big box book stores have ruined the American landscape as far as diversity is concerned. I realize the small town Andy Griffith-esque days are over, but with Borders closing a huge chunk of stores maybe it will open up these smaller family owned businesses***. I still go to these small bookstores whenever I have a chance, but I hardly ever buy any books, unless they are graphic novels about zombies and hookers.

While we are at it, lets close down Walmart, too.

For the record, I own a Kindle. Love it. Extremely convenient, especially with the job I do. I should feel the same way about Amazon as I do about Walmart and Borders, but I'm biased.