Chapters Robson to close in downtown Vancouver

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      In the wake of the announcement of the closures of several chains (Target, Sony, Mexx) in Canada, Chapters has announced it will close its Robson store.

      Indigo CEO Heather Reisman cited a major rent increase, which would make the location unprofitable, in a news release.

      The three-floor store, which has been located at Robson and Howe Streets for 17 years, will be closed on May 31.

      The American Girl Specialty Boutique, which opened on the second floor in the store on May 3, will move to the Granville and Broadway location.

      The company is searching for a new location to serve the Robson Street area.

      According to the CBC, the company will hold a community town hall meeting on February 23.

      Comments

      14 Comments

      Natty

      Jan 19, 2015 at 3:50pm

      Such a shame (no really, I'm not being sarcastic! This was always a nice warm/dry spot to meet up with friends back in the days when hanging on Robson was trendy. Memories.

      ursa minor

      Jan 19, 2015 at 4:03pm

      This is what happens when a bookstore moves all the books away from the main floor, and puts e-readers right by the front door.

      I bought my Kobo Arc at that location, so it's on me. My bad.

      Adrian Mack

      Jan 19, 2015 at 4:13pm

      Damn, how on Earth will I be able to buy all those books downtown that I can also buy at Granville and Broadway??

      Book Lover

      Jan 19, 2015 at 4:42pm

      I would shop at Chapters if they actually had the books I want to read. Pulp Fiction, with stores less than half the size, always brings in the important new titles *at a discount*!!!
      Of course they don't have all the bath towels and candles and throw pillows and American Girl dolls that Chapters carries... because they are a motherfucking bookstore!!!

      tedo

      Jan 19, 2015 at 6:44pm

      vancouverites dont read books, they all want to be greedy landlords as a career

      soon every building in vancouver will be vacant

      Ya know what I miss?

      Jan 19, 2015 at 8:26pm

      I miss Granville Books. THAT was a book store.

      And so it begins....

      Jan 19, 2015 at 9:19pm

      Mwahahaha!

      Chris

      Jan 19, 2015 at 9:30pm

      I'm with Book Lover. Pulp Fiction has more interesting books on three shelves than the whole of Chapters. I'm surprised Chapters has survived this long. It's been years since I've seen more than two people on the fiction floor (yes, I actually have bought books there, naughty me—I live downtown, shoot me). Online sales must have been subsidizing the rent.

      Can we have Duthie back now? (My understanding is that Chapters anti-competitively put them out of business.)

      RUK

      Jan 19, 2015 at 9:47pm

      Book stores are not coming back but I can imagine something like a smallish storefront/coffeeshop hangout where knowledgeable and interesting people can gab about books and then order them online from kiosks. That would preserve the thing I like about bookstores, which is getting recommendations from real humans with an actual personal interest. That's why comic shops work, the people there are nearly always comic book fans and they know way way more about that stuff than casual fans like myself and can give useful suggestions.

      Customer service is why you go to a store.

      tedo

      Jan 20, 2015 at 2:33am

      Bollums...... only a real vancouverite would know that bookstore