Thursday, December 10, 2009

Saddest News Ever

I got the SADDEST e-mail today. Seriously. It made me cry.
This is basically the gist of it.


That's right, Waldenbooks in my home town, the town in which I grew up, is CLOSING!
Forever.

This was the first book store in which I EVER bought a book.

This is one of the ONLY places in which I have good memories of my ex-best friend (ex because we're no longer friends - very long story. Still, it's good to think of the good times we had together, most of which happened in Waldenbooks).
I used to spend HOURS on end in this store, wandering around, looking at books, hoping that my mom would never finish shopping so that I could stay looking at books forever.
This store represents my childhood.
On Monday, when I arrive at home for the holidays, it's the first place I will go.
And it's SO sad to think that it's probably the LAST time I will ever spend time there. Devastating, really.
This place was the foundation for my love of reading.

And now I am crying. For serious. It survived Books-A-Million, but I guess it just couldn't survive Hastings. Utter sadness. Tristesse ultime. Totemo kanashi desu!

Are any of you guys as attached to a book store as I was/am to Waldenbooks? I'd love to know!

21 comments:

Alessandra said...

So sorry your favourite bookstore is closing. I haven't got a favourite bookshop, because I don't buy so many books (and buying books in English online is two or three times cheaper than buying their translations in Italian at local stores - weird but true!), but I'm very attached to the library in my small town. Luckily, it doesn't look like they're shutting it down soon :)

Greg Zimmerman said...

My deepest sympathies! Sadly, this seems to be an unhappy trend all over the country. Harry W. Schwarz, an independent bookseller in Milwaukee, and one of my favorite places in the world, closed its doors after like 75 years of business. Now, I almost feel guilty walking into B&N and Borders.

Unknown said...

I don't have a favourite book store. In my town here is only one book store which is WH Smith.Iwsh there was a litle independen store but there never hs been When I was a kid, I used to go to the library on Saturdays. Luckily our town has quite a few small libraries and one big one. I guess people do read but maybe they just don't have the money to buy books.

I feel your sadness.

Charlotte said...

Oh, I'm so sorry to hear that... It's always hard when places that are important for us close, it's like losing a bit of our personal history. But your memories will stay with you, that's important.

kristen said...

boo. no books etc. and now no waldens. boo.

Sheila (Bookjourney) said...

Oh that is sad. It reminds me of the movie You've Got Mail. :( When the local bookstore closed I cried.

I have not had that happen where I live yet, but I find it sad whenever a book store closes.

Jessica said...

The town that I grew up in didn't have a book store, so I didn't know what I was missing until last year when I moved here and re-learned my love for reading.

Now, after living in a city with a great bookstore, I don't know that I could ever NOT have one again.

Sure, you can always buy books online, but there is NOTHING better than spending the afternoon in a book store looking at literally tons of books and spending every last cent that you have to your name on the ones that scream out to you.

vvb32 reads said...

so sorry to hear the news. i feel for you.
waldens was my first bookstore experience too. it was in our mall and that was the one store i would always visit. because i've moved a locations, i've adjusted to whatever was in the area and of course online book shopping.

Kirthi said...

Oh no! That really is sad news! At least you still have your memories with you!

mary.anne.gruen@gmail.com said...

So sorry to hear the news! It's a piece of your childhood. And I'm sure a big piece of the town. So sad!

I've been attached to a few bookstores. Most of them have closed through the years. First when many of the indy book stores got crowded out. And now with tough times hitting the big chains.

Melissa (My World...in words and pages) said...

Unfortunately, I have heard that some of the Waldenbooks along with some Borders Express's in the malls are going to be closing. It is just awful to hear this news. I like going to the stores themselves and looking at what is on the shelves. I find it easier to find books I like that way, other than out here in the blogosphere. Sorry to hear about you sad news:(

AnAddictedBookReader said...

Aww I'm sorry. I only have a Waldenbooks book store close to my house, so I would be sad if it closed. At least, it looks like they will be having a clearance sale which means awesome books for really cheap prices : D

Kath said...

Oh no!! That's awful. I'd be this upset if PageOne in Taipe closed down but for more practical reasons (its the best place to find English books in Taiwan) rather than emotional. When there's emotions attached it gets even worse.

Well, hopefully this will cheer you up - go and check out my blog. There's a little something for ya!

Jenn (Books At Midnight) said...

Awww, I'm sorry to hear! I don't have a special bookstore because my parents never did approve of me spending much time there, or rather anywhere but at home.

And I gave you an award here! :)

Anonymous said...

I am so, so sorry! That's happened to me a couple of times. Bookstores can't seem to stay open here.

Felicity Grace Terry said...

My deepest sympathy at your loss. I sort of know what you mean. We had two brances of Waterstones book shop in Newcastle and one had to close. Did they close the modern, souless shop or the old fashioned one with the huge winding staircase and lovely stain glass window? Yes, you guessed it, they chose to keep the modern, souless shop - shame on them.

Anonymous said...

The first bookstore I remember going to is Waldenbooks. I have an older sister and before I was even in school she used to go to Waldenbooks when we'd go to the mall and of course I had to go with her. Now it's Borders everywhere, but there are a few Waldenbooks left here and there. I just heard that the plan is to close 200 Waldenbooks in January. Very sad, considering they have som many loyal customers.

Misty said...

We had a Book Warehouse in my town that I visited obsessively for hours on end. It got to the point that people dreaded going with me. Right before Xmas one year (BEFORE xmas -- when does that happen) they closed. I was crushed. We still have a Waldenbooks (not rubbing it in, I swear) and a Book Nook, which is a little mom and pop place. But it still makes me sad.

Josette said...

That really is sad news! I'm so sorry to hear that. I would also feel devastated if a favourite bookstore were to shut down. The places for me to buy books here are the big chains like Borders and local bookstores (MPH and Popular). Sometimes, I also buy books from secondhand bookstores. :)

themoodyteenager said...

Oh man that is really sad! A bookstore is normally a place you walk into and feel you can trust and to have it close down is devastating! Cheer up though, at least you can get some wicked deals on some books! Good luck!

Heather Zundel said...

That is so sad. I know what it is like to be attached to a bookstore like that.

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