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Washington detours
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Bookslast update: Friday, 6 January 2006 last link check: 6 January 2006 |
Ollsson's may not be the perfect independent bookstore, but the chain has shown staying power in the very competitive bookselling landscape of D.C. Its secret may be finding geographic niches, in genuine neighborhoods with Metro access, that are too small for the megamarts to fit: an inviting 2-story brick building on the waterfront in Old Town Alexandria, a space under a tap dance studio in Bethesda (closed recently, alas), a slot next door to the Shakespeare Theatre in the gallery district. The book stock is well-balanced between the literary and the ephemeral, though the poetry and drama selection in some of the stores is a bit thin for me. Hand-labelled staff recommendations figure prominently. Most stores have a handful of CD listening stations, and these are good for something offbeat. There is a generous frequent buyer plan and newsletter, and special in-store events.
I go to Reiter's to find real books on computing, the ones that you refer to for more than six months. I always end up wandering the stacks, down aisles of books in subject areas like my college major (economics)—books that I stand a chance of understanding—and from there into alcoves of medicine and engineering where I'm completely out of my depth. As it is nearby George Washington University and its various professional schools, the store also offers gadgets for medical students. A fascinating place.
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Dupont Circle
Gallery Place
Court House