Columbus is home to tons of beloved local businesses. And the Short North is a conglomeration of a ton of them. Prologue, one of the city’s independent bookstores, is having their sidewalk sale coming up on December 7th, and is the perfect opportunity to stock up on new books to read or find a gift for the bookworm on your holiday list.
Prologue opened its doors to the downtown Columbus community in 2018 and is a breath of fresh air in an area dominated by bars and restaurants. They stock a wide selection of books on fascinating topics, and they run in-store book clubs for devoted readers. The selection is unique and sets itself apart from what you might find at a big box bookstore.
Their eagerly anticipated sidewalk sale takes place monthly from April to December, aligning with the Short North Holiday Hop in December. The Holiday Hop is basically the most efficient way to get holiday shopping knocked out with all the participating businesses and vendors set up with a diverse variety of goods.
Why Shop at an Independent Bookstore
We can already hear it now: “But why would I want to pay full price for books in-person when Amazon and other large online retailers always have them for less?” It’s a valid question to ask. After all, Amazon does sell books significantly cheaper than what you might pay in person. Books are actually a loss leader for Amazon, a fancy business term that means they actively lose money on these products in hopes of attracting new customers for more purchases. And of course, it also helps drive competitors out of business—particularly small businesses who can’t afford to constantly offer reduced prices. Pretty shady, huh?
Keeping things local and shopping at an independent bookstore has tons of benefits. You’ve got:
- Experienced booksellers – bookstore staff helps you find the novel you’re looking for, and they can likely dish out some good recommendations if you share your tastes.
- An improved local economy – when you shop local, more of that money goes directly back into your local economy than it would when you buy from a chain retailer.
- Exclusive events to look forward to – lots of independent bookstores host author events and signings. Some of them even have book clubs for customers to join in on.
- A more diverse retail environment – local businesses so often add to the character and charm of the area they call home. They cultivate community and are remembered fondly.