The Drama Book Shop and the recession

[Mattbrain]

Posted: 1/4/09 at 10:55pm

This store is one of my favorite places of all time in New York. We all know that the recession is affecting everything and everyone.

So I'll just come right out with it and I'm sorry if this seems cynical but I have a tendency to jump to the worst case scenario.

How long has this store got left before it's shut down for good?

[dramamama611]

Posted: 1/4/09 at 11:07pm

That depends strictly on their sales. I go in practically everytime I am in the city (almost once a month) and easily drop 50 to 100 bucks. I don't think I have ever seen fewer than 10 other patrons there at any time. It's a wonderful store and I hope they are around for a long, long time to come.

[jazzicat]

Posted: 1/4/09 at 11:11pm

Instead of being cynical and taking bets on failure, why don't we encourage everyone to take a trip over to the shop and spend some $$. Lord knows I spend enough on Starbucks.

That said, they seem to be having some interesting in-store events in January and Feb. I think we all should make an effort to attend.

http://www.dramabookshop.com/NASApp/store/IndexJsp;jsessionid=bacgjsyeUWyHu_PTB_K6r?s=storeevents

This feels very'You've Got Mailish.'

[Chrysanthemum62001]

Posted: 1/4/09 at 11:12pm

I think they have plenty of years still to come. The staff is brilliant, and it is primo location where they are selling items in high demand.

[ColorTheHours048]

Posted: 1/5/09 at 12:38am

They're totally in no danger. The store is used by every theatre student in NYC as well as every theatre teacher in NYC as well as actors in NYC as well as people interested in theatre in NYC as well as tourists. They are always doing steady business.

[Plum]

Posted: 1/5/09 at 12:57am

If their business is somewhat recession-proof (or at least recession-cushioned), the bad economy could actually help, since it makes it less likely their rent will increase by some obscene amount next time their lease is up.

That said, the "if" in the above scenario is a pretty big and unlikely one. But that said, has there been any hint that they're in trouble? I'm not quite getting where this thread is coming from, though admittedly I haven't dropped by there since before the economy completely tanked.

[allofmylife]

Posted: 1/5/09 at 1:27am

For gods sake, that store wopened in 1917. It as been around forever. They've weathered THE REAL Depression, recessions and New York's Bankrupcy and and many sessions of the lack of interest in theater, they'll get through this. Why do people here have such pessimistic viewpoints? The world doesn't revolve around today and we are not the most important generation by any means. Just move on.

[Plum]

Posted: 1/5/09 at 1:38am

To be fair, this is a pretty epic economic disaster, especially in high finance and the businesses directly attached to it. For example, law firms like Heller Ehrman (118 years old) and Thacher Proffitt (160 years old) made it through the Great Depression (and in the latter case, both WTC attacks) but haven't made it through this one.

But yeah, there's nothing to show that concern about the Drama Book Shop is anything but pure speculation right now.

[allofmylife]

Posted: 1/5/09 at 5:16am

It's the morbid speculation that ticks me off. Next we're going to read "So-and-so's show just closed. Do you think they'll die soon?" Sometimes this site is the knitting circle in front of the guillotine.

[dramamama611]

Posted: 1/5/09 at 5:20am

It was only ONE person's negative thoughts...the rest of us have tried to point that out.

[Mattbrain]

Posted: 1/5/09 at 10:06am

Thanks for putting my mind at rest, you guys. I mean that. I really appreciate it.

[broadwayfan7]

Posted: 1/5/09 at 10:06am

I visit the store everytime I am in NYC. I hope they stay open even through these tough times.

[Unknown User]

Posted: 1/5/09 at 10:40am

I wish them well but bookstores have been especially hard hit recently. And while it's admirable they survived the great depression, there was no Amazon.com then.

[wonkit]

Posted: 1/5/09 at 12:58pm

I would add a note of optimism, too. Amazon.com (which I use too frequently) is based on selling primarily popular books - where there is an established potential market. But it does not have everything - even through its third-party sellers. And you can't really browse a web site the way you can a book store. And Drama Book Shop is wonderful browsing territory. Sometimes I go with a particular purchase in mind, but end up with three other items that I "found." Other times I go just to browse. I think it should do just fine, recession or no recession.

[everythingtaboo]

Posted: 1/5/09 at 9:35pm

As long as they can pay what I'm sure is a nice chunk of change for the rent. If they're lucky, they own the building!

[SweeneyPhanatic]

Posted: 1/5/09 at 11:01pm

I know I'll be doing my part to keep them in business this Friday while I'm in the city. Gonna stock up on some librettos and play scripts, and maybe some Meisner workbooks, if they've got any when I go. On my last trip to NYC, this store was where I spent the most money, and I do not regret any purchase I made there.