We’ll admit to feeling a certain amount of schadenfreude when we learned this week that Chapters Indigo plans to shut down its flagship Vancouver location on Robson and Howe, June 30, citing high rent for its closure. And we rarely express schadenfreude, mostly because it’s hard to pronounce and spell.
Of course, many have blamed Chapters for the demise of independent book stores over the years, but we also think lazy, cheap people who don’t put much thought into the effects of their easily coerced consumer habits are equally to blame. Because when it comes right down to it, Chapters is a crappy bookstore. Unless you’re looking for a current best seller, or the latest Oprah-approved memoir or coffee table book, the store’s selection is horrible. The fiction section almost always occupies an ever-shrinking ghetto-like corner of the store, and the staff, although lovely people we’re sure, seem interchangeable with the barristas slogging lattes at the attached in-store Starbuck’s.
We doubt, however, book buyers will be too affected by the absence of a downtown Chapters. Sure, it’s a sad reflection of a city that claims to be world class that it can’t sustain a significantly sized bookstore, independent or otherwise. But we suspect Chapters customers will search out ever cheaper and convenient book-buying options online, if they haven’t already.
The customers truly affected are those who shop at Chapters for its soothing fragrant candle selection, whimsical notepads, diaries and various stationary emblazoned with birds, flowers and inspirational Maya Angelou quotes (are there any other kind?), cute little tea sets and reed diffusers that fill one’s living room and life with the enchanting scent of vanilla bean. Those are the real victims. We’ll be lighting a sea salt and driftwood candle for them tonight. Or maybe a tropical mango and persimmon. It depends on the mood we’re in.
