Bookstores in Barcelona, "the Spanish-language world's publishing capital, are remaking themselves as cultural centers that offer concerts, classes and hard to find books to draw customers," AFP reported (via ArtDaily).
"We had to change. Either we reinvented ourselves or it was really impossible to stay open," said Montserrat Serrano, owner of the +Bernat bookstore, which moved to a larger location six years ago so it could include a cafeteria that offers a daily menu and cooking classes, and is also used to hold conferences, debates about cinema, language classes, concerts and even board game tournaments. "You end up converting the bookstore into a meeting place, there is a lot of movement and you build customer loyalty."
The number of bookstores in Spain fell from 7,074 in 2008 to 5,864 in 2013, AFP noted. Antonio Daura, head of the Association of Booksellers in Catalonia, said, "The crisis has been long, persistent and deep. But there have been entrepreneurs, people who have opened shops with a very specialized focus and small size."
"There was an economic crisis, but not a cultural crisis," said Abel Cutillas, owner of Calders bookshop. "Very interesting publishers have emerged, very appealing authors, books are being translated and republished that have lots of quality. The success of a bookstore is surviving and at the moment we are doing that."
Xavier Vidal, who opened Nollegiu in 2013, added: "If I sit in the bookstore and wait for people to come, I can die. I have to make them come, spread my passion for reading."
