Bookstop Inc. was a Texas-based chain of bookstores that was at one time the fourth-largest bookselling chain in the United States.[1] In 1989 Barnes & Noble acquired the company, at which point it became a subsidiary of Barnes & Noble.[2] The chain also did business under the name Bookstar due to trademark conflicts in other states.
Laura J. Miller, author of Reluctant Capitalists: Bookselling and the Culture of Consumption, wrote that the chain "combined discounting with very wide selection, careful attention to display, and a reliance on sophisticated information systems in order to build a chain that would appeal to affluent, educated readers."[3] Jason Epstein, author of Book Business: Publishing Past, Present, and Future, described the chain as being modeled on the supermarket concept.[4] Miller stated that the store format was "consciously" modeled after the format of the Toys "R" Us stores.[3] Laura Elder of the Houston Business Journal wrote that the chain "pioneered the superstore concept".[5] Hoover himself states that "While the execution of the idea was difficult and complex, the core idea was not. We simply took the retail business model of Toys R Us — giant single-category stores with large product selections and low prices — and applied it to books."[6]
Bookstop measured how well a title sold for 130 days after being placed on the shelves to decide whether to retain it in stores beyond that point. If the book was considered definitive in its field, it could remain even without strong sales.[7]
Historyedit
Bookstop opened in 1982, established by Gary Hoover and Steve Mathews.[5]Patrick Spain, who had attended university with Hoover, invested some of the original capital into the chain.[8] Its headquarters were in unincorporatedTravis County, Texas, in Greater Austin (using an Austin postal address).[9][10] In 1989 the chain had a total of 22 stores in Texas, California, Florida, and Louisiana,[3] and about $65 million in annual sales.[8] For its superstore format, Bookstop acquired many former downtown theatres to turn them into vast bookstores.[11]
Barnes & Noble acquisitionedit
In 1989 the board of Bookstop asked Hoover to step down from his position. That year, Hoover and a group of venture capitalists sold Bookstop to Barnes & Noble for $41.5 million.[12] Barnes & Noble made the acquisition after a multi-month struggle with Crown Books, as both had purchased significant stakes in Bookstop with the aim of acquiring it. After Barnes & Noble completed the purchase, Crown sold its share in the company.[3][13]
Solveig Robinson, author of The Book in Society: An Introduction to Print Culture, wrote that the purchase "gave [Barnes and Noble] the necessary know-how and infrastructure to create what, in 1992, became the definitive bookselling superstore."[14] Miller wrote that Bookstop was "a key part of Barnes & Noble's early superstore efforts."[3]
After the acquisition, Bookstop-branded stores continued to exist, and Barnes & Noble became Bookstop's parent company.[5] In 1997, Barnes & Nobles decided to turn the NY Bookstop into a B&N branded store. This initiated the process of retiring the Bookstop brand.[15] In August 2009, the Bookstop at the Alabama Theater in Houston that opened in 1984 was turned into a Barnes & Noble.[16][17][18]
^"Hoover Joins McCombs School as Entrepreneur-in-Residence 2014-10-13 at the Wayback Machine" (). University of Texas at Austin. September 9, 2009. Retrieved on April 7, 2014. "In 1982, Hoover founded Austin-based Bookstop, which grew to be the fourth largest bookstore chain in the nation before being acquired by Barnes & Noble in 1989."
^Long, Elizabeth. Book Clubs: Women and the Uses of Reading in Everyday Life. University of Chicago Press, August 1, 2003. ISBN0226492621, 9780226492629. p. 76. "Now Bookstop (a Texas-based division of Barnes & Noble),[...]"
^Epstein, Jason. Book Business: Publishing Past, Present, and Future. W. W. Norton & Company, January 17, 2002. ISBN0393322343, 9780393322347. p. 160.
^ abcElder, Laura. "Barnes & Noble ends self-competition by closing Bookstop store." Houston Business Journal. November 17, 1997. Retrieved on April 7, 2014. "Bookstop pioneered the superstore concept when Gary Hoover and Steve Mathews formed the Austin chain in 1982."
^Hoover, Gary. "Two key skills for entrepreneurial thinkers, leaders to have." Austin Business Journal. September 14, 2012. p. 2. Retrieved on April 7, 2014.
^Bucholz, p. 157. "Books that don't do well within their first 130 days are kept on Bookstop's shelves if they are the definitive book on a subject. The chain measures the rate of return.[...]"
^ abSolomon, Steve. "The Dynamic Duo." Inc.. October 15, 1997. Retrieved on April 7, 2014. "In 1981, however, when Hoover started Bookstop, the nation's first chain of superstores for discount books, he renewed his partnership with Spain, who invested some of the initial capital."
^"Generalized Zoning Map." City of Austin. Retrieved on April 7, 2014.
^"Theater to Shut Down but History May Stand". Los Angeles Times. 1990-11-03. Retrieved 2019-07-30.
^Calnan, Christopher. "Gary Hoover likens biz creation to craftsmanship." Austin Business Journal. August 13, 2013. Retrieved on April 7, 2014. "Hoover knows of what he speaks. He founded book superstore Bookstop Inc., which was acquired by Barnes & Noble for $41.5 million,[...]"
^"HOW CROWN BOOKS SLIPPED DOWN THE BEST SELLER LIST". Washington Post. 1997-09-22. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved 2019-07-30.
^Robinson, Solveig. The Book in Society: An Introduction to Print Culture. Broadview Press, November 15, 2013. ISBN1770484310, 9781770484313. p. 260.
^Elder, Laura (16 November 1997). "Barnes & Noble ends self-competition by closing Bookstop store". Houston Business Journal. Retrieved 2019-07-30.
^Foster, Robin; Correspondent, Chronicle (2009-08-04). "Bookstop to close, reopen at West Gray". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved 2019-07-30.
^Foster, Robin; Correspondent, Chronicle (2009-08-03). "Bookstop to close Sept. 15; Barnes & Noble opens Sept. 16". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved 2019-07-30.
^Blumenthal, Ralph (2006-08-12). "Fighting the Wrecking Ball to Save Houston Landmarks". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2019-07-30.
Sources
Bucholz, Barbara B. and Margaret Cran. "Bookstop, Austin, TX." In: Bucholz, Barbara B. Corporate Bloodlines: The Future of the Family Firm (A Lyle Stuart book). Carol Publishing Group, 1989. ISBN0818405074, 9780818405075. p. 145-159 - This book has a chapter on Bookstop
bookstop, company, bookstop, texas, based, chain, bookstores, that, time, fourth, largest, bookselling, chain, united, states, 1989, barnes, noble, acquired, company, which, point, became, subsidiary, barnes, noble, chain, also, business, under, name, bookstar. Bookstop Inc was a Texas based chain of bookstores that was at one time the fourth largest bookselling chain in the United States 1 In 1989 Barnes amp Noble acquired the company at which point it became a subsidiary of Barnes amp Noble 2 The chain also did business under the name Bookstar due to trademark conflicts in other states BookstopCompany typePublicFoundedTravis County Texas 1982 FounderGary Hoover and Steve MathewsSuccessorBarnes amp NobleHeadquartersTravis County TexasNumber of locations 1989 22Key peoplePatrick SpainRevenue 1989 65 million The Alabama Theatre in the Upper Kirby area of Houston is a former Bookstop location Contents 1 Business model 2 History 2 1 Barnes amp Noble acquisition 3 See also 4 References 5 External linksBusiness model editLaura J Miller author of Reluctant Capitalists Bookselling and the Culture of Consumption wrote that the chain combined discounting with very wide selection careful attention to display and a reliance on sophisticated information systems in order to build a chain that would appeal to affluent educated readers 3 Jason Epstein author of Book Business Publishing Past Present and Future described the chain as being modeled on the supermarket concept 4 Miller stated that the store format was consciously modeled after the format of the Toys R Us stores 3 Laura Elder of the Houston Business Journal wrote that the chain pioneered the superstore concept 5 Hoover himself states that While the execution of the idea was difficult and complex the core idea was not We simply took the retail business model of Toys R Us giant single category stores with large product selections and low prices and applied it to books 6 Bookstop measured how well a title sold for 130 days after being placed on the shelves to decide whether to retain it in stores beyond that point If the book was considered definitive in its field it could remain even without strong sales 7 History editBookstop opened in 1982 established by Gary Hoover and Steve Mathews 5 Patrick Spain who had attended university with Hoover invested some of the original capital into the chain 8 Its headquarters were in unincorporated Travis County Texas in Greater Austin using an Austin postal address 9 10 In 1989 the chain had a total of 22 stores in Texas California Florida and Louisiana 3 and about 65 million in annual sales 8 For its superstore format Bookstop acquired many former downtown theatres to turn them into vast bookstores 11 Barnes amp Noble acquisition edit In 1989 the board of Bookstop asked Hoover to step down from his position That year Hoover and a group of venture capitalists sold Bookstop to Barnes amp Noble for 41 5 million 12 Barnes amp Noble made the acquisition after a multi month struggle with Crown Books as both had purchased significant stakes in Bookstop with the aim of acquiring it After Barnes amp Noble completed the purchase Crown sold its share in the company 3 13 Solveig Robinson author of The Book in Society An Introduction to Print Culture wrote that the purchase gave Barnes and Noble the necessary know how and infrastructure to create what in 1992 became the definitive bookselling superstore 14 Miller wrote that Bookstop was a key part of Barnes amp Noble s early superstore efforts 3 After the acquisition Bookstop branded stores continued to exist and Barnes amp Noble became Bookstop s parent company 5 In 1997 Barnes amp Nobles decided to turn the NY Bookstop into a B amp N branded store This initiated the process of retiring the Bookstop brand 15 In August 2009 the Bookstop at the Alabama Theater in Houston that opened in 1984 was turned into a Barnes amp Noble 16 17 18 See also editHoover s Another company founded by Gary HooverReferences editNotes Hoover Joins McCombs School as Entrepreneur in Residence Archived 2014 10 13 at the Wayback Machine Archive University of Texas at Austin September 9 2009 Retrieved on April 7 2014 In 1982 Hoover founded Austin based Bookstop which grew to be the fourth largest bookstore chain in the nation before being acquired by Barnes amp Noble in 1989 Long Elizabeth Book Clubs Women and the Uses of Reading in Everyday Life University of Chicago Press August 1 2003 ISBN 0226492621 9780226492629 p 76 Now Bookstop a Texas based division of Barnes amp Noble a b c d e Miller Laura Reluctant Capitalists Bookselling and the Culture of Consumption University of Chicago Press September 15 2008 ISBN 0226525929 9780226525921 p 50 Epstein Jason Book Business Publishing Past Present and Future W W Norton amp Company January 17 2002 ISBN 0393322343 9780393322347 p 160 a b c Elder Laura Barnes amp Noble ends self competition by closing Bookstop store Houston Business Journal November 17 1997 Retrieved on April 7 2014 Bookstop pioneered the superstore concept when Gary Hoover and Steve Mathews formed the Austin chain in 1982 Hoover Gary Two key skills for entrepreneurial thinkers leaders to have Austin Business Journal September 14 2012 p 2 Retrieved on April 7 2014 Bucholz p 157 Books that don t do well within their first 130 days are kept on Bookstop s shelves if they are the definitive book on a subject The chain measures the rate of return a b Solomon Steve The Dynamic Duo Inc October 15 1997 Retrieved on April 7 2014 In 1981 however when Hoover started Bookstop the nation s first chain of superstores for discount books he renewed his partnership with Spain who invested some of the initial capital Arny Rose Forthcoming Books Volume 25 Issue 3 R R Bowker Company 1990 p 1513 Dist by Bookstop Inc 6106 Baldwin Austin TX 78724 SAN 630 4087 Generalized Zoning Map City of Austin Retrieved on April 7 2014 Theater to Shut Down but History May Stand Los Angeles Times 1990 11 03 Retrieved 2019 07 30 Calnan Christopher Gary Hoover likens biz creation to craftsmanship Austin Business Journal August 13 2013 Retrieved on April 7 2014 Hoover knows of what he speaks He founded book superstore Bookstop Inc which was acquired by Barnes amp Noble for 41 5 million HOW CROWN BOOKS SLIPPED DOWN THE BEST SELLER LIST Washington Post 1997 09 22 ISSN 0190 8286 Retrieved 2019 07 30 Robinson Solveig The Book in Society An Introduction to Print Culture Broadview Press November 15 2013 ISBN 1770484310 9781770484313 p 260 Elder Laura 16 November 1997 Barnes amp Noble ends self competition by closing Bookstop store Houston Business Journal Retrieved 2019 07 30 Foster Robin Correspondent Chronicle 2009 08 04 Bookstop to close reopen at West Gray Houston Chronicle Retrieved 2019 07 30 Foster Robin Correspondent Chronicle 2009 08 03 Bookstop to close Sept 15 Barnes amp Noble opens Sept 16 Houston Chronicle Retrieved 2019 07 30 Blumenthal Ralph 2006 08 12 Fighting the Wrecking Ball to Save Houston Landmarks The New York Times ISSN 0362 4331 Retrieved 2019 07 30 Sources Bucholz Barbara B and Margaret Cran Bookstop Austin TX In Bucholz Barbara B Corporate Bloodlines The Future of the Family Firm A Lyle Stuart book Carol Publishing Group 1989 ISBN 0818405074 9780818405075 p 145 159 This book has a chapter on BookstopExternal links editHoover s World Website of founder Gary Hoover Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Bookstop company amp oldid 1213033754, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
