Indie Bookstores Looking for Angels

Well, Publisher's Lunch brought a bit of bad news this morning. They said that the end is near for WordsWorth, the indie bookstore on Harvard Square. "Harvard Square book lovers may soon be at a loss for WordsWorth" [Boston Herald]

"Independent bookseller WordsWorth, which recently declared bankruptcy, will shut down in a few weeks unless a financial savior comes through, the store's co-owner, Hillel Stavis, said yesterday."

I've never been to WordsWorth, but I know of it because TT Editor Lucy McCauley loves their store and has raved about her author events there. One of my favorites, Easy Going in Berkeley, is having the same difficulties. "Easy Going seeks help in hard times" By Martin Snapp [Contra Costa Times]

"'Everyone is telling me to declare bankruptcy, but I could never do that. I'd consider it unethical.' Instead, she is looking for 50 people -- whom she dubs "The Fabulous Fifty" -- to lend the store $5,000 apiece, which will be paid back in installments over the next six years. In the meantime, they'll get 25 percent off everything they buy in the store or on its Web site, www.easygoing.com. Elkins needs to raise $250,000, but she says if she hasn't raised $100,000 by Christmas, she'll give back the money already collected. But she might not have to. Eight people have already kicked in, bringing the take so far to $40,000. First to pony up was Fred Hornbruch, retired owner of Phileas Fogg Travel Service at Stanford Shopping Center. "It would be a crime to let such a wonderful place go away," he said."

Fred is a good guy, and I couldn't agree with him more.