The Stores That Have Thrived Amid The Retail Apocalypse

A cozy, intimate bookstore in Washington, D.C., whose bestselling titles include the “Good Night Story for Rebel Girls” and “The Handmaid’s Tale,” refuses to be intimidated by the brick-and-mortar Amazon bookstore that just opened nearby—the first to take root in the nation’s capital. Katie Presley, a buyer at independent book seller Upshur Street Books, located in the Petworth neighborhood, argues the e-commerce behemoth is lacking in an area that matters most to local readers: human connection. “They can beat us when it comes to price… and they can beat us at delivery times… but they can’t touch us on human interaction,” said Presley in an interview. The “human connection” has helped Upshur Street Books thrive since it opened more than three years ago. Last year, for instance, sales increased 10%. Upshur Street Books is part of a resurgence in the indie bookstore. The American Booksellers Association reports a 35% increase in the number of independent booksellers from 2009 to 2015 despite mounting e-commerce pressure from Amazon. Read more at Market Watch.