Open a Bookshop, what could possibly go wrong?

A flood in a bookshop, isn’t that the first sign o...

2012-05-21T23:22:26.572+01:00

A flood in a bookshop, isn’t that the first sign of an apocalypse? Or is that exploding sheep? Either way nooooooooooooooo!!! Soggy books :(

You can contact me via twitter: @tbrd

2012-05-14T15:23:45.187+01:00

You can contact me via twitter: @tbrd

Do you need any sharp sand? I've got about hal...

2012-05-14T15:22:07.469+01:00

Do you need any sharp sand? I've got about half a ton of it in my front garden on burghley road and I've changed my plans so I'm not going to need it.

What a brilliant idea, only sorry I missed it! I&#...

2012-05-13T14:09:44.009+01:00

What a brilliant idea, only sorry I missed it! I've recently moved to North London and will pop over for a long browse at your wonderful shop.

Helena

I am VERY impressed by this - if there's any j...

2012-05-13T01:32:13.393+01:00

I am VERY impressed by this - if there's any justice in this world you will thrive. I grew up in Enfield (now living in California) and we had no bookshop like yours when I was a kid (1970s). I ended up regularly going down to Camden and Central London for my book fix - Compendium (much lamented), Foyles, Colletts etc. I'm living in a small town with two independent bookshops but with constant apprehension that they will fail. Good luck for the future!

Hello, I'll check with the post office tomorro...

2012-05-11T18:07:28.070+01:00

Hello, I'll check with the post office tomorrow how much it'll cost to send to the states & let you know. It is a bit heavy...

That sounds fantastic! I like your log fire :D And...

2012-05-11T17:37:53.540+01:00

That sounds fantastic! I like your log fire :D And that meal sounds amazing. How much do you think it would cost to mail a book to the U.S., or are they only for locals who can drop by?

That takes me back. I worked at Georges too - I t...

2012-04-27T19:15:52.906+01:00

That takes me back. I worked at Georges too - I think I started as a Saturday person in '83... Do you remember John Hill who used to run the Order Department? He was my first boss. Thankfully I escaped and worked for Duncan in paperbacks for a few years before taking over the Computer Books dept at no.87 after Jean Young left... It's such a shame that the old shop at 89 Park Street was sold to Jamie Oliver last year and is now an Italian restaurant!

This is such an awesome blog and fantastic thing I...

2012-04-20T11:28:23.767+01:00

This is such an awesome blog and fantastic thing I've seen in a LONG time! Love it!

Thanks Johnny, got the book. Thanks so much.

2012-04-19T10:57:05.417+01:00

Thanks Johnny, got the book. Thanks so much.

I'll drop it by at the weekend, then!

2012-04-18T07:47:20.438+01:00

I'll drop it by at the weekend, then!

Hello Johnny, I know that I once owned Et Tu, Bab...

2012-04-17T23:21:36.808+01:00

Hello Johnny,
I know that I once owned Et Tu, Babe. I must have done. I really must have done. But you are quite right, it is nowhere to be seen. I appreciate greatly the fact that not only do you also know the wonder of Mark Leyner, but you are willing to donate a copy of Et Tu, Babe. I don't know what to say. Thanks would be a good start. If you happen to be passing the shop with a copy, then that would be amazing. I will be trying to locate a copy myself now too, so please don't worry too much.
Thanks for the message.

Hello, I noticed in your earlier post about your ...

2012-04-17T21:26:32.790+01:00

Hello,
I noticed in your earlier post about your bookshelf that Et Tu, Babe was glaringly absent. Perhaps you just had it on the bedside table to peruse again paragraphs about women so thin they were drawn to the TV by static and men who'd had their actual hearts tattooed, or perhaps you don't have it at all, in which case I'd like to donate it.

Lovely post. You make it sound almost Dickensian -...

2012-04-02T22:43:15.236+01:00

Lovely post. You make it sound almost Dickensian - makes me wish I had spent the 1980's in Bristol, rather than in the North East (my town's bookshop was the second floor of WHSmiths!)

Very nice. Creepy how?

2012-04-02T21:34:01.948+01:00

Very nice. Creepy how?

Does it mean I'm pathetic if that post made me...

2012-03-08T20:34:07.748Z

Does it mean I'm pathetic if that post made me a little bit teary?

Hooray for you and your customers!

Congrats :-) I hope you do sell out!

2012-03-07T22:11:15.206Z

Congrats :-) I hope you do sell out!

i have joined facebook because i am making applica...

2012-03-02T10:38:03.355Z

i have joined facebook because i am making applications and want to market my business so please join me on fb.
add me here
usa visitors are welcome

Facebook Apps | Facebook Application Developers

That's an inspirational post! Well done and go...

2012-03-01T17:39:29.219Z

That's an inspirational post! Well done and good luck for the future.

We have just had a smilar experience in North West London where a small furniture cooperative was threatened to be demolished to make way for an electrical substation for Crossrail.

The Big Table shop, which makes wonderful handmade beds on site, has been there for over 30 years, but was threatened with closure by a compulsory purchase order from Crossrail.

A local campaign got underway in the autumn, we collected over 3,000 signatures for a petition to keep the shop open and secured cross-party political support to keep a thriving small manufacturing business going. Research was undertaken into the history of the buidling which is over 100 years old and was originally built as a tea shop for the workers on the Great Western Railway.

Two weeks ago Crossrail announced that they had reviewed their plans and no longer required the building to be demolished. Big Table have another 10 years of their 40 year lease left and can finally move on after eight months of stress and worries.

The positive outcome of the campaign has been the incredible local support which has taken the shop owners by surprise and the community spirit that has developed. It is amazing what can be achieved when people come together with a common goal.

Fantastic story of wonderful customers inspired by...

2012-02-26T09:59:41.988Z

Fantastic story of wonderful customers inspired by a great bookshop. Good on you & your partners Simon. Here's to many more years.

So glad things are going better.Kel (who helped pa...

2012-02-26T00:06:07.821Z

So glad things are going better.Kel (who helped paint the shop when you opened) and I are living in Japan at the moment,but missing good English language bookshops.What you have done (and the way you have done it) is amazing.

We'll be there

2012-02-25T23:33:29.430Z

We'll be there

I haven't seen you for a long time Simon, or c...

2012-02-25T23:28:56.585Z

I haven't seen you for a long time Simon, or communicated, but I have followed your progress from time to time and have always believed that if anyone could make the Big Green Bookshop a viable concern it would be you and Tim with your passion for books and your committment to the local community.

I congratulate you on reaching the milestone that represents the paying off of your loan and wish you continued success

Giuseppe di Lampedusa

A glitch on Facebook. I hope....

2012-01-30T14:37:43.252Z

A glitch on Facebook. I hope....

Joined! Why did it lose members?

2012-01-30T14:32:59.327Z

Joined! Why did it lose members?