Would San Antonio Support A $1 Used Bookstore? (Austin, El Paso: sales, hotel)

[Nix54]

Originally Posted by sapphire

I'll try to remember to get a number for you today. I don't know what rents are in this area.....further down towards 1604 I think they get higher....There is a used text bookstore near Culebra and Les Harrison....but it was listed on craigslist as being for sale....not sure if it will last or not.

Selling textbooks is a very competitive business. A lot of publishers are constantly allegedly updating their books and hustling it to teachers to use in their classes.

Most textbooks have no value after like 3 years. Thats tough for the struggling student, they are almost forced to buy brand new books every semester.

Unless you have a supply of recent textbooks, a textbook store can survive. Nowadays the internet is doing most of the used textbook business.

[Camper1]

I would also like to suggest you accept books for donation. I have a ton of old stuff no one I know would want but could still be of good use to someone. Maybe buy three get 10 free!

[Nix54]

Originally Posted by Camper1

Put me down for at least $4-5 a week for the sci fi/fantasy.Thats what both of mine read.

All these pledged purchases will add up! Thank you.

[Nix54]

Originally Posted by Chaka

Great building!
There's an old station (also used to be a dry cleaner) on the intersection of S. St Mary's and King William (or one of the streets leading into KW, maybe a different name) that's now a pizza place.

There are a number of old buildings in the area looking for new occupants. Some need some sprucing up.

I am biased, but I'm less inclined to frequent a place in the middle of a strip mall where I have to drive and park in a large ugly parking lot. I like the idea of a used bookstore blending into the fabric of its surroundings, attracting pedestrian traffic. The good thing about Southtown is that there is also lots of parking available. The downside is that because it's becoming more popular, rents are increasing.

The rental price is a main factor. Another option is buying a fixer upper either from the bank or owner finance.

If you see any bargains out there and possibly Zoned Commercial please let me know.

Thank you.

[Nix54]

Originally Posted by Camper1

I would also like to suggest you accept books for donation. I have a ton of old stuff no one I know would want but could still be of good use to someone. Maybe buy three get 10 free!

Trades Accepted! Here's the way it would work, Good clean books would be accepted for half price of what we would normal sell them for.

For example you have one pocketbook, we would give you a fifty cents store credit toward your next purchase of a $1 pocketbook. We would then charge you just fifty cents cash for the book.

I'd like to do a straight trade, but cash revenues must always keep coming in to survive.

Hope I didn't confuse you.

[Chaka]

Originally Posted by Nix54

The rental price is a main factor. Another option is buying a fixer upper either from the bank or owner finance.

If you see any bargains out there and possibly Zoned Commercial please let me know.

Thank you.

if you're interested in the area, contact the Southtown MainStreet Alliance in the link I posted. There are a lot of places available, but they don't advertise/post the rents. You have to call.

[Nix54]

Originally Posted by Chaka

if you're interested in the area, contact the Southtown MainStreet Alliance in the link I posted. There are a lot of places available, but they don't advertise/post the rents. You have to call.

Thanks Chaka.

[crittergal]

Originally Posted by Nix54

Critter Gal did you ever go to the old Brock's Bookstore? It was at 312 East Commerce, downtown. That place had over a million books. Unfortunately it shut down in 1987.

A real piece of San Antonio history.

No never did if you are speaking of East Commerce here in San Antonio, I was still living in NY at that time. Only been here a year.

[Camper1]

Originally Posted by crittergal

No never did if you are speaking of East Commerce here in San Antonio, I was still living in NY at that time. Only been here a year.

Welcome to San Antonio!!

[cr1039]

You may have issues advertising your store as "dog friendly" considering the coffee, tamales and hot dogs ideas will conflict.

You may only allow work animals such as a seeing eye dog in an establishment which serves food. A patio however would be acceptable.


Local authors may consider doing a reading or signing, you would though either have to sell their books according to the set cost for that book, if you want to sell the author books for $1 I would assume your store would have to make up the difference. As for national authors, that can become extraordinarily expensive - some of the authors I work with command $10K honorariums, flight and hotel arrangements, ground transportation and meals etc.

How many books would you need to sell, on average, per day to cover rent, salaries, marketing etc?

How much do you expect your average customer receipt to be?

How many people do you expect to come into the store daily - what is you estimated foot traffic?

What are your projected hours of operation?

I am sure "any place" would support a $1 "anything".