CL flickr

Visit our You Shoot page.

Wordsmiths Books closes

Monday, March 2nd, 2009

Last August, Wordsmiths customers helped it avoid shutting down. As of today, however, the popular downtown Decatur bookstore is closed.

From its blog:

I’ve pondered how to start this, but this is the best I can come up with. There is no great way to begin the end of a dream, and there is no gentle way to state that finality is upon you. That said, I regret to announce that, as of Monday, March 2nd, 2009, Wordsmiths Books will close its doors for good. I don’t do this willingly, and I would love to say that there were avenues of exploration yet to wander, possibilities that could avert this outcome, but that would be untruthful. I have explored every possibility open to me, but the sheer magnitude of the decline in sales alone (on the heels of our efforts to right the boat) from our current economic downturn has long since evaporated the fumes. Frankly put, there’s nothing left to make the engine go, and sitting on the side of the road with a thumb out doesn’t seem to earn you much grace as a business.

Be sure to read it in full as it’s a poignant goodbye post.

Atlanta retail weak

Monday, November 24th, 2008

Have you noticed an increase in the number of empty storefronts around town?

Your eyes are not deceiving you.

The Atlanta Business Chronicle:

Atlanta’s retail center vacancy rate rose to 12 percent in the third quarter, according to the bi-annual Retail Real Estate Report published Monday by Colliers International.

The 12 percent vacancy rate compared with a rate of 8.9 percent as of Dec. 31, 2007 and is higher than the U.S. rate of 9.3 percent.