Aradia closing, needs volunteers
Flagstaff: As you probably know, our local independent bookstore, Aradia Books, is closing.
Aradia, Flagstaff’s oldest bookstore, has served the local
community for 28 years. As Flagstaff’s last full-service
independent bookstore, we carry books by local authors and are
committed to representing Flagstaff’s racial, ethnic, sexual, and
political minorities. We promote cooperation rather than
competition.
Well, corporate competition has moved in and, again, has helped to destroy the local flavor. I’m so tired of this.
Did you know that just thirty years ago, the busy Milton area (fast food, target, chase, barnes and nobles, starbucks….etc.) used to be horse corals? Every year, as corporate chains move in and local businesses move out, our unique little town looks more and more like any other city in the country. Does anyone know what ever happened to the “Unchain Flagstaff” hoopla of a few years ago?
Last year, we lost our only independent record store and the only independently run movie theater. Now, Rambo 4 runs on multiple screens at Harkins and the Darfur documentary isn’t even coming here. Anyway….
For the next couple weeks, Aradia is in need of volunteers to pack up books and help with general cleaning/clearing out. If you can help, just show up Monday-Saturday 10:30am-5:00pm through the end of April.
Explore posts in the same categories: local politix, books
April 17th, 2008 at 2:08 pm
Give the people what they want or else go out of business.
April 17th, 2008 at 6:39 pm
I have always gotten what I wanted from Aradia (9 yrs). I think the HUGE Barnes& Noble right around the corner may have had quite a bit of influence in another local business closing down.
April 18th, 2008 at 11:45 am
My point exactly, what does Barnes & Nobel have that Aradia did not?
Better selection, better prices, ect.
April 18th, 2008 at 2:30 pm
I think it’s the other way around. What does Aradia have that BnN doesn’t? And the answer is, a lot. First the obvious - Aradia sold books that BnN wouldn’t touch with a ten foot pole. And many professors, especially from the political science and women’s and gender studies departments, ordered their books from Aradia. When Derrick Jensen came to town, the owner of Aradia was invited to sell his books at his talk. Despite all this support, it is still closing down. There is no friendly competition when corporations move in and it hardly has anything to do with the preference of citizens. When was the last time anyone asked you if you wanted a new Starbucks or Burger King?
And second, supporting a local bookstore means love of your unique community. It means petting their dogs as you enter the building. It means a unique blend of under represented genres. And don’t even get me started on greedy Flagstaff landlords and building owners whose rising rent prices chase out local business as quickly as any of the other factors…