The only full-service book store in Schuylkill County will close sometime in January, leaving many readers in the Pottsville area out of luck. It's a move that has some book readers angry.
A lot of shoppers were at the Waldenbooks Store in the Fairlane Village Mall near Pottsville Friday but company officials said they are closing 200 stores nationwide, including the Fairlane Village Mall location and one near Hazleton.
A Waldenbooks spokesman said the stores in malls are being targeted to make the firm more profitable.
"With Waldenbooks closing some said that will increase traffic at local libraries such as the Pottsville Free Public Library."
"Especially with fiction, people enjoy reading fiction, and maybe our used book sales will pick up. We have friends of the library who do used book sales," said Denise Miller of the Pottsville Free Public Library.
Waldenbooks customers are not going down without a fight. A petition drive is underway to keep the Schuylkill County location open.
"I'd rather see my kids open up a book than turn the TV on and watch a stupid cartoon or a stupid TV show," said Joanne Matina of Pottsville.
"I bring my children to buy books and they look forward to coming here and browsing. It's a great place," said Terry O'Keefe of Orwigsburg.
At least one mall businesswoman said closing the book store could hurt her.
"With the bad economy the way it is, with one less store, it attracts people less. Why go there, because there is nothing there so it does affect every one of us that's left," said Georgia Thomas of Village Pretzel.
There is no word from the company whether the petition drive to save will have any effect.
A lot of shoppers were at the Waldenbooks Store in the Fairlane Village Mall near Pottsville Friday but company officials said they are closing 200 stores nationwide, including the Fairlane Village Mall location and one near Hazleton.
A Waldenbooks spokesman said the stores in malls are being targeted to make the firm more profitable.
"With Waldenbooks closing some said that will increase traffic at local libraries such as the Pottsville Free Public Library."
"Especially with fiction, people enjoy reading fiction, and maybe our used book sales will pick up. We have friends of the library who do used book sales," said Denise Miller of the Pottsville Free Public Library.
Waldenbooks customers are not going down without a fight. A petition drive is underway to keep the Schuylkill County location open.
"I'd rather see my kids open up a book than turn the TV on and watch a stupid cartoon or a stupid TV show," said Joanne Matina of Pottsville.
"I bring my children to buy books and they look forward to coming here and browsing. It's a great place," said Terry O'Keefe of Orwigsburg.
At least one mall businesswoman said closing the book store could hurt her.
"With the bad economy the way it is, with one less store, it attracts people less. Why go there, because there is nothing there so it does affect every one of us that's left," said Georgia Thomas of Village Pretzel.
There is no word from the company whether the petition drive to save will have any effect.
