Talk:Independent bookstore

Define "independent bookstore"?
Some of the "independent bookstores" cited are really small chains (Powell's, McNally Robinson). They're still technically independent (cf. independent business), but the point could use some clarification. For example, Books Inc. (10 locations, all in California) describes itself as "the West's oldest independent bookseller". Alexbook (talk) 18:02, 10 July 2008 (UTC)
 * Nowadays, a 10-store "chain" is really just a large independent. Compared to B*&N* and B****** and a*****, they're like the moms and pops (outside of a tiny radius where they can be oppressively dominant just like the big guys). -- Orange Mike  &#x007C;   Talk  18:56, 10 July 2008 (UTC)
 * Well, that's my feeling, too, but it seems like the opening paragraphs could be clearer on the subject. Just my opinion. Alexbook (talk) 19:02, 10 July 2008 (UTC)

Hobby shop?
I wonder if indy bookstore would classify as a hobby shop?--Piotr Konieczny aka Prokonsul Piotrus Talk 17:27, 15 April 2006 (UTC)
 * Certainly not; reading is civilization, not a hobby. -- Orange Mike 13:30, 2 August 2007 (UTC)

List of well-known independents getting dodgy?
Is this list in need of trimming? It's susceptible to spamming, I fear; and there are a heck of a lot of redlinks there. I'm hesitant to boldly kill all the redlinks, including the new one just added. I mean, some folks belong here: most of the ones with article, from the Strand to Acres in Long Beach to Renaissance to Tattered Cover to City Lights; but what about the redlinks? Should we set a tacit 30-day (3-day?) limit and then start the trimming? -- Orange Mike 13:29, 2 August 2007 (UTC)

Featured stores
Do we really want separate sub-sections highlighting selected stores? Seems like a similar paragraph could be written about any of the stores in the List of independent bookstores article.

The recent addition of the Book Man makes this point. I'm not saying anything against the Book Man, which I'm sure is a fine store and an asset to its community, but the same could be said for dozens of other stores.

--Alexbook (talk) 16:48, 20 December 2013 (UTC)

History of independent bookstores outside of U.S.
This article only discusses the history of U.S. bookstores. Is there a similar pattern of decline and renaissance in other countries? Or does the history differ? EmgriffUW (talk) 22:31, 27 October 2019 (UTC) EmgriffUW