[RP TownTalk] Vertigo Books- Goodbye: We are Closing

Mon Apr 13 01:00:57 UTC 2009

Friends,

I wanted to share this email with you because like many of you I am  
deeply concerned about our local businesses and try as much as  
possible to support them.  Three independent bookstores have closed  
in just the last year in the metropolitan area--Karibou, Olson's and  
now Vertigo.  The owner's of Vertigo, like many of our local  
businesses, live in our community, hire local residents, and pay  
local taxes.

FYI. At the bottom, are some coupons for two local businesses that  
serve great food.  I've eaten at both.  The Japanese restaurant also  
will deliver to Riverdale Park.

PS.  I also love Rhode Island Reds on Route 1, just south of the  
Hyattsville main street area.  The restaurant is cozy, family- 
friendly, and the food is fresh.  I've enjoyed both their lunch menu  
and pizza on Friday nights.

Best,
Dannielle

Dannielle Glaros
dmglaros at gmail.com

Begin forwarded message:

> From: Vertigo Books News <staff at vertigo-books.com>
> Date: April 10, 2009 4:16:31 PM EDT
> To: dmglaros at gmail.com
> Subject: Goodbye: We are Closing
> Reply-To: staff at vertigo-books.com
>
> Having trouble viewing this email? Click here.
> You're receiving this email because you signed up for our email  
> list at Vertigo Books or one of our events. Please add  
> staff at vertigo-books.com to your address book so we reach your inbox  
> (rather than a junk folder).
>
> You may unsubscribe if you no longer wish to receive our emails.
>
> So Long, Farewell:
> Vertigo Books is Closing!
>
> Hello-
>
> After seventeen and half years, the time has come. Curtains down  
> and goodbye--in two weeks Vertigo Books will close.
> Starting today, EVERYTHING IN THE STORE IS 20% OFF. If you've been  
> eyeing that special something, come in and grab it now, before  
> someone else does. And our new rules for the next couple weeks: no  
> checks, no returns and no exchanges. Please note: we will be closed  
> Easter Sunday, April 12, our usual hours will resume Monday
>
> Why are we closing? There are many reasons, but basically, not  
> enough people buy books here.
>
> We have many loyal customers, just not enough of them, and our  
> cloning experiments have not yielded satisfactory results. And way  
> too many people (not you, but someone you know) are buying their  
> books at Amazon. We'll spare you the inside baseball stuff about  
> the near monopolistic force Amazon has become in the industry. You  
> can also skip to the party info at the end if you like.
>
> Connecting the Dots
> As we have said before, your shopping dollars help create the  
> community you want to live in. For every $10 you spend at locally- 
> owned businesses, $4.50 stays in our community. The math is simple  
> and compelling:
> Vertigo Books $4.50
> Barnes & Noble/Borders/Costco $1.30
> Amazon $0.00
> The money you spend with locally-owned businesses continues to  
> circulate as we pay employees, buy supplies and pay taxes that are  
> used to provide basic services to residents.
>
> Our local economies are key to a successful recovery from the  
> current financial crisis. Amazon and many online retailers  
> contribute nothing financially to our state and local economies,  
> yet suck up an enormous amount of Maryland's shopping dollars and  
> compete heavily with small natural foods stores, hardware stores,  
> bookstores and specialty stores of all kinds.
>
> While Amazon may have made their name selling books, they want you  
> to buy a DVD player, organic foods, power tools and pick up the  
> latest John Grisham title when you visit their site. They actively  
> fight any attempt to force them to collect sales tax--even in those  
> states where they have a physical presence. Maryland Senate Bill  
> 1071 will allow us to join other states, such as New York and  
> Kansas, that are now collecting sales tax for online sales and  
> using the revenue for education and public safety.
>
> Building Community as You Shop
> Building community is an ongoing process, the result of small  
> choices made everyday. We know you understand this, but are very  
> busy and shopping online is seductive. We sympathize and have many  
> of the same worries. But independents live in and serve your  
> community and make many intangible contributions. What does Jeff  
> Bezos, the founder of Amazon, do for our community? We are:
> working for quality public schools
> advocating for smart growth and sustainable development
> pushing for comprehensive planning and public transit
> serving on local boards and committees
> supporting your causes
> and operating a business that recycles, reuses and donates.
> And, except for that last item, we'll continue to do these things.
>
> Please take a fresh look around your community, temporarily ditch  
> the iPod, stop Facebooking and tweeting for a moment and explore  
> your neighborhood's businesses. Use one of the coupons below to  
> visit new locally-owned businesses that need your support. If you  
> want a small business to offer something else or do something  
> differently, let them know and help them improve. If we want more  
> than chains in the area, we need to start by supporting the local  
> businesses we already have.
>
> Any Excuse for a Party: Join us Saturday, April 18 5 pm-??
> One of us grew up Irish Catholic and, under these circumstances, a  
> wake is required. Bring a dish or something to drink and join us  
> for a free form wake and potluck on Saturday, April 18 from 5 pm-??  
> If you shopped, read or worked here, we want to see you.
>
> We hope Vertigo Books has served as a thoughtful literary and  
> political gathering place, community and author resource, provided  
> challenging, interesting conversation along with some laughter, and  
> generally served, as one customer put it, as "an intellectual oasis  
> on Route 1" (and previously at Dupont Circle).
>
> Please stay in touch by sending us a note at staff at vertigo- 
> books.com. We were never good about photographing and documenting  
> the store's activities. If you have event calendars, photos or  
> memorabilia to share, please send them on. A computer with archived  
> materials was stolen last summer, so your contributions would be  
> much appreciated.
>
> We owe an enormous thank you to the friends and family who made  
> this adventure possible. We thank the many authors who so enriched  
> these years, and our sales reps, publicists, event partners,  
> publishers and our outstanding customers for their friendship and  
> encouragement.
>
> Thanks for your support over the years,
> Todd Stewart, Bridget Warren &
> The Staff of Vertigo Books
>
>
> Come in and browse, there are many titles to choose from,
> but shop now for best selection.
>
> Please stay in touch-- follow us via  or visit Vertigo Books on   
> where you can join our customers' Vertigo Books Appreciation  
> Society or the Save Vertigo Books Group.
> Vertigo Books    Find Us
> 7346 Baltimore Ave.
> College Park MD 20740
> 301-779-9300
> A short walk from the College Park Metro on the Green Line (exit  
> west toward the residential neighborhood) & one block south of  
> campus on Route 1.
> Mon-Fri 10-8 Sat 10-7 Sun 12-5
>
> PARKING TROUBLE? Please try the parking lot one block south of  
> Vertigo Books, at the corner of Hartwick Rd. and Rt. 1. This lot is  
> near Applebee's and FedEx/Kinko's and less congested than the  
> parking immediately in front of our store AND you can put more time  
> on the meters. FREE parking in both lots on Sunday and holidays.
> Save 10%	
> For Vertigo Books Customers: Savor delicious sushi and Japanese  
> appetizers, soups, salads, and hibachi entrees at Kiyoko Express.  
> Eat in, carry out and delivery available.
>
> Kiyoko Express 7313 Baltimore Ave, unit H
> College Park, MD 20740
> 240-764-8312/fax 240-764-8313
> Offer good through May 21, 2009. In-store use only, please present  
> coupon at the register. Not applicable to campusfood.com
> $1 off of $5 purchase or more	
> For Vertigo Books Customers: Wild Onion is a quick service café  
> featuring hot and cold meals, soups, salads, desserts and  
> sandwiches made with free range meats.
>
> Wild Onion Cafe University Town Center
> 6504 America Boulevard Hyattsville, MD 20782
> 301-209-0630 eatwell at wildonioncatering.com.
> Offer good through April 24, 2009.
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>
> This email was sent to dmglaros at gmail.com by staff at vertigo-books.com.
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> Vertigo Books | 301-779-9300 | www.vertigo-books.com | 7346  
> Baltimore Ave. | College Park | MD | 20740
>

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