WIW News

Chapters Turns a New Page in Bookstore Management

Chapters A Literary Bookstore, a longtime favorite of Washington writers, is seeking a radical solution to the modern day dilemma of how to keep a small, independent bookstore alive in the new retail economy dominated by major chains. Co-owners, Steve Moyer and Terry Merz, one of the founders, operate the store, located on 11th Street, NW. WIW Board Member James McGrath Morris stopped in and talked with Moyer to learn about the store’s plans for the future.

Chapters A Literary Bookstore celebrated its twentieth anniversary in September. What is the good and bad news of being twenty years old?
The good news is that we are still here after twenty years in an extremely difficult environment for independent booksellers. The bad news, if you want to call it that, is that in order to continue in the way we would like, it’s necessary to reorganize. What we decided on came after months of thinking of different options. Finally, we had decided to become a readers’ coop. Then we happened to see a movie at the Avalon Theatre and picked up literature on how they saved that building several years ago. Terry noticed it involved a nonprofit organization and Terry and I had started one in 20001 called Wordfest—to do the D.C. International Poetry Festival. So we looked into the possibility of Wordfest buying out Chapters. The advice we got was “sound greats, it’s a good idea.”

Why would this change the economic equation that makes it difficult to sustain an independent bookstore today?
In the short run it would enable Chapters to get an infusion of capital and we would be back on firm financial footing. Once that happens it completes the circle. Wordfest can continue doing the events it does and Chapters can continue selling books at these events. When, and if, Chapters has a profit it would go back to Wordfest and support its work.

What will it take for this to happen?
We are trying to reach 1,600 contributors, each putting in $50 or more tax-deductible contributions, to Wordfest. Wordfest would then buy out Chapters and it will be a for-profit subsidiary of Wordfest.

How would you describe the kinds of writers who benefit from Chapters?
Many poets, many writers who are published in the states in translation, and many first time novelists do readings here. They would not have a venue if it were not for Chapters.

Tell me more about the event on Thursday October 13th.
We have a jazz quarter—the Sanga Equation—that will play two sets while people mingle and have wine. Between sets there will be a questions and answer session about how this will all work.

What else can writers do?
Tell five to ten friends, who can write a check. A lot of people don’t understand the urgency. We need the financial support now if we are to be here tomorrow for writers and readers in Washington.

Thursday October 13th
Cool Jazz! Good Cause!
6-7 p.m.
445 11th St.
Washington, D.C.
(202) 737-5553
www.chaptersliterary.com

James McGrath Morris is most recently the author of the Rose Man of Sing Sing, selected by the Washington Post as one of the best nonfiction books of 2004. He is currently working on a new biography of Joseph Pulitzer for HarperCollins.