I’ve bought books from every local bookstore in the village, and I find the personalized customer service to be exceptional. You can wander into Dandelion Bookshop on Oak Park Avenue with only the vaguest idea of what you want to read, and Jamie will somehow have five perfect recommendations based on your interests and maybe even recalls your last visit. I’m convinced it’s a superpower, a distant cousin to psychic ability.
Having been an Oak Park resident for more than a decade, I’ve shifted during that time from intrigued to frustrated to resigned that the corner of Lake and Harlem had one massive empty storefront. It once housed Borders bookstore and, before that, Marshall Field’s department store. You can usually tell how long someone has lived here simply by how they describe that corner. While I have cheered the expanded set of retailers and food options near that intersection of Lake Street, it has been hard to remain accustomed to just nothing there.
Earlier this month, Barnes & Noble opened in that space, finally bringing added life back to a corner that desperately needed it. As opening day approached, you could feel the inevitable commerce debate brewing: local versus chain. The new Barnes & Noble sits less than 200 yards from a newly opened independent bookstore, and for some people, that proximity is reason enough to pick a side.
I’m not one of those people.
We’ve got to get to a place where we can embrace local shops, regional chains, and national retailers. A healthy business district is built on choices. Competition can be uncomfortable, but it’s also what keeps commercial districts vibrant.
I have fond memories of spending hours in Barnes & Noble reading books and magazines, while my friend or girlfriend was engrossed in another section on another floor. Better yet, I made more than a few purchasing decisions based entirely on whatever happened to be sitting on the display table with an 80% off sticker.
There are people who will never step foot inside Barnes & Noble just because it’s a national chain. That’s their choice, and I respect it. Just like there are shoppers who only buy groceries at Carnival or the farmers market and are annoyed that Pete’s is building another store on Madison (odds on whether it will be before the next presidential election?).
The beauty of Oak Park is that nobody has to choose one or the other. You can get a book delivered by the staff at The Book Loft, pick up the latest release at One Stop Comics, or get happily lost perusing inside Barnes & Noble. You can buy your weekly groceries at Sugar Beet or Whole Foods. They’re all different experiences, and that’s exactly the point.
Not every store has to be everyone’s favorite. Supporting local businesses is important. So is filling long-vacant storefronts and encouraging foot traffic. Everyone should shop from their preferred stores and often, so we can maintain these choices and keep Oak Park’s business districts thriving.
You don’t have to love what someone else loves. Just don’t yuck their yum.
Vince Gay has over 20 years of experience in education, ranging from classroom teacher to building administrator. The proud parent of two school-aged children, he has been an active member of the Oak Park community for more than a decade.