Definitely work in the field for a bit before deciding if you want to open your own store! You get a feel for what your neighborhood is looking for in books--and there are different tastes in various places, depending on education levels, ethnic makeup, families-vs-singles, etc. I will admit to prefering the smaller-store experience of Waldenbooks over B&N so far, and I think that, after I get some bills paid off and some electronics replaced here, I'll probably end up quitting within a year or so.

Jesse, that's very exciting. I totally have opening my own business fantasies lately. Either some kind of bakery/pie shop or my real dream would be a rep. cinema.

Well, there's only one (weird) bookstore in my neighborhood and beyond into Queens, which is why I think it could work, but it does mean there's no way to find out about actual local tastes other than by demographics and guessing.

It's really just a pipe dream at this point, but I'm starting to read about business planning and stuff, so taking Actual Steps. Kind of.

It was over 100 for the third day on a row today. The good side of this is that the DH has an expensive review car this week, a Land Rover--and it has much better AC than our house. It even has air-conditionoed seats! We were out running errands and then to a dinner yesterday, and out all day today, going to EVERY FURNITURE STORE IN CALIFORNIA to look for a chair which doesn't cost a zillion bucks and trying to find a non-hideous wall sconce for our living room. Didn't find either, but we did stay cool.

Jesse, if you're really looking into your own bookstore in an area that's underserved in that field, try chatting with other stores in the area you're interested in; they'll be able to let you know what kind of customers come in (young professionals, families, blue-collar), and you can finesse your selection after opening. In the area around the mall when I worked there, we had a lot of immigrant families, so history and business wasn't really in demand, but fiction, kids, and self-improvement were hot topics, with the genre fiction being the biggest (romance, mystery, and sci-fi). At my current store, it's much more widespread, but business and current affairs are very popular.

In the area around the mall when I worked there, we had a lot of immigrant families, so history and business wasn't really in demand, but fiction, kids, and self-improvement were hot topics, with the genre fiction being the biggest (romance, mystery, and sci-fi).

That is so awesome, because that is totally what I was thinking -- we have a lot of immigrant families, too, and increasing (as far as I can see) people like me -- young professional types. Conveniently, those are also the kind of books I would want to buy!

Fuck, the more I think about this the more awesome it feels. The whole idea is so out of character for me, but I don't know -- maybe it could happen.

I mean, I've always loved books and bookstores, and I've probably paid more attention to them than the typical person, because I've always thought, "If I were in charge, here's how this would work" about everything.

Good for you, Jesse!! I hope you can get it to work! If you don't have big-box competition, even better. Definitely do a lot of research by checking out all different bookstores, all different clientele and sizes, and talk to the managers, especially those with indie stores. Do a little websurfing and see if you can find an LJ indie-bookstore-owner group, and contact the ABA (American Booksellers Association) for support groups and networking. Research the hell out of your field and neighborhood before committing to a business plan and loan.

Joining the ABA costs like $350, which I figure I should earn working in a bookstore to show myself good faith. And then there's so many resources! There's really a ton of shit out there. Of course, there are also small bookstores closing all the freaking time, but still.

In today's bookselling world, I'd definitely back up your IRL store with a decent website--online orders, especially if a local customer can order at midnight for pickup in a few days at your store is a big plus over Amazon.