Freebird Books - what do you think?

booknerdnyc

So Freebird Books & Goods on Columbia is for sale, and I'm thinking of buying. I'm a longtime independent bookseller and I've got lots of ideas, but my experience is more with new books rather than used, and I admit I've got my doubts about the viability of a new bookstore in that area. But it's a beautiful space, and a great vibe (and they've got beer).

What do you think? Have you been to the store? What could make it better? Is there hope for a prosperous indie bookstore on the Columbia waterfront?

jonemmerling

That place is awesome. If you've got ideas I say go for it. Make sure you keep the beer!

anonymous

please change the ridiculous name, keep the beer and wine, good snacks, make it a little more modern. i think it can fly, with some new blood and more experience.

anonymous

more specialised sections - if i'm gonna walk/travel over there i want to see stuff i won't see at bookcourt or barnes and noble - i want to be pleasantly surprised/come across stuff i didn't even know exists

jane_birkin

i like the place quite a bit but it just doesn't feel like "brooklyn" to me...it feels like it belongs in a college town in new england. the type of people who live in our neighborhood aren't the hippy types who respond to a skynyrd name. maybe that's why it's had a tough time finding its niche here. if it was my place i think i'd have done more to fit the space in with the look of the block. i mean, from the window you can see the awesome industrial shipyards. i buy books there pretty regularly but i always feel slightly out of place.

kgirl

The thought crossed my mind too --- I did some investigating and had some ideas that could work. But in todays NYTimes there's an article about the future of the area. There's been alot of interest, even with mayoral support, of changing the area...getting rid of the shipping/industry...and making it more live-able. But looks like that's been postponed again. So I think in 5 -7 years it will be a great place to be a part of! But you'd have to really wait out some long tough years. Maybe if you had a few partners to share the worktime so that you could work other "day" jobs...

anonymous

Open up the space for more readings and events...the area is full of poets and fiction writers who would appreciate that.