Bookstore in Barth concludes: A big loss for culture!

Bookstore in Barth concludes: A big loss for culture!

The bookstore "Bücherstube" in Barth will close on September 30th if no successor can be found. Christiane Leesch, who has been running the business for 25 years, then retires. The closure is perceived as a significant loss for the city center of Barth, where the bookstore represents an important cultural area. Meike Ihlau, the head of the Wossidlo Bookstore, expresses her regret about this fact and emphasizes that it is a challenge to find a successor to such an institution.

The regular customer Karin Böttger expresses her grief about the upcoming from the "Book Tube" and emphasizes the great importance of the bookshop for the entire community. Other customers, such as Sigrid Arndt, also ask the question of where people in the region should buy books in the future. Christine Leesch himself regrets that she will lack the conversations and contact with her loyal customers. In particular, she criticizes online retailers like Amazon, as they do not offer personal contact and individual advice that distinguished their bookstore.

meaning of the "bookstore" for Barth

The building of the "Book Tube" has a long history. It was built in the 19th century and has served the book trade since then. In the past, regional and historical books and crime novels were sold particularly well there, which are valued by customers. The bookstore has made this diversity a popular meeting place for bookworms. The inner city of Barth, in which the bookstore is located, has been lovingly restored and, in addition to beautiful town houses, also offers attractive shops and restaurants that invite you to stroll and enjoy.

Barth is also known for its historical legend about the trade metropolis of Vineta, which, according to older theories, is buried in Barther Bodden. To date, this legend attracts many visitors and is another aspect that keeps the city alive. Vineta is often referred to as the "Atlantis of the North" and is connected to stories about wealth and freedom. The research of this legend and the importance of Barth in this context are still active research fields that also find reporting in the press.

challenges of book trade

The closure of the "Bookstyle" is in the context of a general trend in bookstores. According to the Statista, the net turnover of the book retail in Germany was around 3.7 billion euros in 2022, which gives Germany the highest sales in Europe. But the industry is also faced with challenges. The internet trade in books is the fastest growing sales channel, while the number of inpatient book individual trading companies has been declining.

Development shows that the Belletristik product group has the largest share of sales, followed by children's and youth books and advice. Although e-books are becoming increasingly important, personal contact and individual advice in bookstores such as the "bookstore" remains irreplaceable. This is exactly what the personal touch in her bookstore, which will soon be missing.