Comments on: Goodbye: We are Closing

by: Gina

Tue, 26 Jan 2010 15:18:29 +0000

I am so hurt that I never got to visit the store when you moved from Dupont Circle. One day many years ago, I was walking in Dupont Circle and went into your store. I was so intrigued! You introduced me to a world I never really appreciated. Because of you, I attended my first book reading, George Fraser at the New Carrollton Library. I took your calendar and marked off events you were having around the Metro Area. Because of you, I have seen Connie Briscoe, Marita Golden, Sista Souljah, E Lynn Harris (may he rest in peace). I never missed E Lynn Harris when he was in town, because of you. Reading your articles today, I have made a committment to find another locally owned bookstore, record store, hardware store, grocery store, boutique, sandwich shop; to help my community thrive! Yes, I fell into the trap of buying books on Amazon, but no more! Thank you, Vertigo, for all you did for the community and bringing my awareness back to reality. I’m just sorry I let you down and did not continue to patronize you.

by: Denise

Thu, 30 Jul 2009 15:29:35 +0100

I just moved back to the area and am sorely disappointed to learn that VB went out of business. I refuse to give Borders or Amazon a dime. Your departure leaves very few options for independent book buying in the area. You will be missed.

by: David

Thu, 16 Jul 2009 10:53:19 +0100

Thanks for all your years of service guys sad to see you go!

by: Vertigo Books

Fri, 24 Apr 2009 21:20:53 +0100

Actually, Tom N., you did not have to pay full price at Vertigo. Over 1/3 of our books were significantly discounted. Newer titles were regularly 20% off, we had a free frequent buyer card and sold lots of sale books. A sale title, originally $25 in hardcover, might be $6.99. You can read a bit more here http://vertigobooks.blogsome.com/2008/11/23/my-name-is-bridget-and-i-am-book-geek/

by: Tom N.

Fri, 24 Apr 2009 21:01:23 +0100

I’ve never been to this bookstore, but I shop many bookstores, new and used and am sorry this one has to close because of inadequate sales. I buy a lot of books, many of them used, and understand what the independents are up against with the bigger stores. But, if you buy a lot of books, it doesn’t make sense to pay full price for them when they are often avaliable elsewhere with nice discounts.

by: Matthew

Fri, 24 Apr 2009 18:23:03 +0100

I am fortunate enough to live in four communities in three different countries that value their independent bookstores (and other shops). My community in the United Kingdom is particularly successful in maintaining this character. But even here it is eroding at the edges. On this blog and in my communities I hear many people feeling sad about local shops going under. What no one is confronting is that most people do not value independent shops. They value cheapness and convenience. They do not value their community (too often I see -exclusively in America- that people do not even know their neighbours). This is to say the problem is epidemic - far beyond simply shopping locally. Because few people are facing up to this simple fact, no one is asking the simple direct question: what do we do when our society is beginning to fall apart because people do not want these social institutions? What happens when some of us realise that we are very much outnumbered?

by: Emilia Bautista King

Sun, 19 Apr 2009 11:05:53 +0100

Sidney Poitier, Zadie Smith, David Wisniewski, Mattie Stepanek, Gwen Ifill…these are just a handful of authors I met at Vertigo Books. I will miss not only having an excellent independent bookstore in my neighborhood, but also having local booksellers who actually knew books. Many thanks to you, Bridget and Todd. I’m sad that my 2-year-old daughter won’t have Vertigo around as she continues to grow.

by: David

Fri, 17 Apr 2009 14:12:54 +0100

Thank you for the years of service. You will be deeply, deeply missed.

by: angela

Thu, 16 Apr 2009 14:07:28 +0100

I’m so sorry to hear this. My husband and I (who also recently shut down our own indie [candy] store in Baltimore - seriously, everyone: SHOP LOCAL so this won’t keep happening!) went on some of our first dates in your store. And you were one of our first stops after we found out we were having a baby - we drove over to you from DC because you guys had such an awesome selection of kids’ books and parenting books for a couple of soon-to-be anarchist unschooling parents. That day is one of my fondest memories, and your store was one of the best things about living in DC. I hope you all land on your feet and find much joy and success in your future endeavors. This is such a sad loss. :/

by: Melle Sherman

Thu, 16 Apr 2009 11:01:23 +0100

I know that I am very sad to see you go. I have been shopping at Vertigo Books since I was in the 5th grade. I am a sophomore at Maryland now. This is all too depressing to see the stores that I grew up around disappearing one by one. You have contributed to the history of College Park and I thank you for that. Best of luck to you in the future.