Writing Shotgun

ACRES OF BOOKS PLANS TO STAY IN LONG BEACH

Theo DouglasTue. April 08
 

Despite what folks at the city told us Monday, one of Acres of Books’ owners said this afternoon that they do want to keep the store open after its pending $2.8 million sale to the city’s Redevelopment Agency.

In fact, with some luck–and another building–one of Long Beach’s oldest businesses could remain here for years to come.

“We’re not totally going out of business,” said Jackie Smith, granddaughter-in-law to the bookstore’s founder, Cincinnatian Bertrand Smith. “We’re desperately looking for a place. If we can find another place, we’re going to do it.”

That’s interesting. Craig Beck, the director of the city’s Department of Development Services, told me yesterday that the store owners–Smith and her husband Phil, Bertrand Smith’s grandson–weren’t interested in staying.

But Jackie Smith says they are–so maybe we’ll see a century of Acres of Books, instead of just a great 75 years.

Too bad the city knocked down the Streamline Moderne K-FOX building on Anaheim Street and Long Beach Boulevard. That place would have been perfect for Acres of Books. (Or, at least, I liked it.)

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COMMENTS

  1. 1

    It’s a lot easier to deflect criticism when you make it seem like the owners didn’t really want to stay in business anyway. And buying folks out is a lot easier when you can just threaten to eminent domain their ass.

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    Posted By Andy on April 8th, 2008 at 11:34 pm

     

  2. 2

    Well, I always liked the building, but it’s the business itself that is the real treasure. I really hope they stay in Long Beach. Can’t Suja help them find an appropriate place?

    Can’t they buy out, say the 98 Cent Store on 4th Street one building West of Cherry? That way Suja and the Pike Restaurant hipsters, and Art Theater patrons can go there during their lunch hour! It’s got to be dead cheap. I’m fairly serious here.

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    Posted By Dave in Alamitos Beach on April 9th, 2008 at 9:47 am

     

  3. 3

    Jesus, Acres of Books. One day you want to stay, the next you want to go, and the next you’re back again. Quit toying with my emotions. If this is over, just be honest with me.

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    Posted By Kaspar on April 9th, 2008 at 9:45 pm

     

  4. 4

    Maybe Acres can move into an empty local at the Pike or somewhere on vintage row??? Since Acres looks and feels more vintage, maybe that’s the place for them. Anyway, the current location is not a good one for them, something more prominent belongs there.

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    Posted By sassy sue on April 10th, 2008 at 1:12 pm

     

  5. 5

    Yes, there’s nothing so distasteful as a vintage feel in a complex named the “Art Exchange”.

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    Posted By Andy on April 10th, 2008 at 3:39 pm

     

  6. 6

    I totally agree~

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    Posted By sassy sue on April 10th, 2008 at 4:01 pm

     

  7. 7

    Retro Row would be the best location for Acres of Books. We don’t want to lose them to L.A. after all. Surely the RDA can help out?!

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    Posted By Dave in Alamitos Beach on April 10th, 2008 at 5:39 pm

     

  8. 8

    The old Al Greenwood place on PCH did have a “coming soon Thrift Store” posted on it, but it is still empty and now the sign is gone. If it is available again, it would be a perfect site for Acres of Books, maybe they should check into it.

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    Posted By Sharon T on April 11th, 2008 at 3:47 pm

     

  9. 9

    i can’t imagine how weird it would be to walk into acres somewhere else…one of the appeals has always been breathing in that decades-old book dust, or pointing out to friends visiting from other parts of the country, “oh, that’s where Bradbury used to sit,” etc. i love the business itself, and have given more money to it than i probably ought to have over the last several years, but in a newer building with bright shiny lights? i don’t know…weird weird weird.

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    Posted By Mike Guardabascio on April 14th, 2008 at 9:53 am

     

  10. 10

    Dave in Alamitos Beach, great idea!

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    Posted By KaRi from TPSradio.org on April 14th, 2008 at 12:21 pm

     

  11. 11

    Truly, truly one of the city’s gems; the city would be lopsided without it. And I hear everyone on their worry on whether this place will move or die, or what. I want it to stay in Long Beach… I agree that it’d fluff up Retro Row, too.

    With eminent domain, however… What’s the story behind that?? I remember that part of the deal with eminent domain is that the city buys out a business/copmany for redevelopment, etc., but that it also helps that business relocate and settle in a place exactly like the place they were already at. It’s the law. The District, help fill in the gaps, yo.

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    Posted By Marsus Minqu on April 14th, 2008 at 12:28 pm

     

  12. 12

    Oh well, I guess there will be no reason to visit Long Beach when the bookstore is gone. Great use of taxpayer money!

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    Posted By minty on April 15th, 2008 at 4:56 pm

     

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