VIDEO TRANSCRIPT: Parthenon Books encourages shopping local ahead of the holiday season
Olivia Rodriguez: They say don’t judge a book by its cover. That’s a message that rings true for Linus Brooks, the lead bookseller at Parthenon Books, downtown Syracuse’s last independent bookstore. Because for him, the beauty of downtown is found in its small businesses.
Linus Brooks: We do as much as we can to help downtown grow into a place that is warm and inviting and a fun place to be.
Rodriguez: Recently under new management, Parthenon is aiming to bring community back to downtown. With their coffee shop, local artist displays and constantly updated book selection Parthenon is hoping to stand up to large online retailers.
Brooks: If you come in, you can purchase a book and it’s donated to the United Way. And while independent bookstores are doing that, Jeff Bezos is donating to the expansion of the White House and also destroying independent bookstores.
Rodriguez: Now the holiday season is the most critical time of the year for small independent bookstores like Parthenon. It’s the time of the year when customers can choose between shopping online and shopping local. And that decision can make all the difference.
Brooks: I would probably say it’s the most important time because a lot of the reason that we had so many empty storefronts and we still have so many empty storefronts is because it’s so easy to shop online.
Rodriguez: And this trend isn’t anything new. Adobe Analytics reported that last holiday season consumers spent over $240 billion shopping online. However, as loneliness rates continue to increase across the country, Linus says that people are coming back to stores to recharge and reconnect.
Brooks: If you do shop local, it might be a little bit more expensive but that’s what keeps our cities great and it’s what keeps Syracuse great. Our tagline is less scrolling more reading.
Rodriguez: Because when you pick up a good book, you can discover different worlds. But more importantly, at Parthenon Books, you can support the world and the people right in front of you. Olivia Rodriguez NCC News.
SYRACUSE, N.Y. (NCC News) — When was the last time time you stopped into your local bookstore instead of purchasing your books off of large online retailers? At Parthenon Books, the last independent bookstore left in downtown Syracuse, they know the answer to that question may be complicated. However, even more important is remembering how the small decision between shopping online and shopping local can make all the difference to the community.
“If you do shop local,” said Linus Brooks, the lead bookseller at Parthenon Books. “It might be a little bit more expensive but that’s what keeps our cities great and it’s what keeps Syracuse great.”
Parthenon has become a staple of downtown since it’s opening just over three years ago. And their goal then is the same as it is now, bringing community spaces and local businesses back to downtown. Speaking to Brooks, he often will veer into endless praise for the other local business such as Wildflowers Armory and Salt City Market. Because for him, small businesses need to stick together and stand together.
“If you come in, you can purchase a book and it’s donated to the United Way,” said Brooks about a local nonprofit that aims to mobilize communities. “And while independent bookstores are doing that, Jeff Bezos is donating to the expansion of the White House and also destroying independent bookstores.”
Brooks’ feelings are not invalid. Adobe Analytics reported that last holiday season consumers spent over $240 billion dollars shopping online. However, as loneliness rates continue to increase across the country, trends are showing that younger people are migrating back to brick and mortar book stores that offer connection, community and companionship.
“We do as much as we can to help downtown grow into a place that is warm and inviting and a fun place to be,” said Brooks.
And their efforts are obvious. From an in-house coffee shop, to constantly updated selections, to sections dedicated from everything from the classics to trending books online, Parthenon is doing what it can to appeal to everyone. They even offer to order any book that a customer may be looking for that they don’t have. It’s all in service of the customer experience, especially as independent bookstores like them heavily rely on the profit from the busy holiday season.
“I would probably say it’s the most important time,” Brooks adds. “Because a lot of the reason that we had so many empty storefronts and we still have so many empty storefronts is because it’s so easy to shop online.”
And as promotional events and sales gear up for the start of the holiday season, Brooks is positive that their intimate and localized shopping experience will continue to draw in support from locals. Because when you pick up a good book, you can discover different worlds. But more importantly, at Parthenon Books, you can support the world and the people right in front of you.