More Than Retailers, Bookstores Offer Community
WDCB’s Gary Zidek gets ready for Independent Bookstore Day with a visit to The Book Stall in Winnetka.
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“Amazon does not put on author events, Amazon does not write shelf talkers or do recommendations, besides sort of an algorithm that they have, so I think people appreciate that. We are a destination that offers some sort of entertainment, and Amazon cannot provide that. They are not a gathering place, and we are a gathering place.” - Stephanie Hochschild, owner of The Book Stall, talking about the ways an independent bookstore can stand out in today’s marketplace.
Stephanie Hochschild, owner of The Book Stall
Saturday April 27 is Independent Bookstore Day. Over 550 bookstores across the country will celebrate the occasion with special deals, merchandise and programming. The North Shore-based Book Stall is among the local participants in the one-day promotional celebration. The store now known as The Book Stall opened its downtown Winnetka doors back in 1937, making it one of the oldest book retailers in the Chicago metro area. Stephanie Hochschild became the shop’s fifth owner when she purchased it in 2013. The daughter and niece of librarians says books are in her DNA.
“Sure, we sell products, we put products on our shelves, and we’re in the retail business to sell things. But, there’s something special about connecting with people on a personal level, and often times the book is a conduit to make those personal connections.” - Mike Wysock, floor manager at The Book Stall.
The Book Stall floor manager Mike Wysock holding one of his recent recommendations, THE OVERSTORY..
