Staying Alive in a Digital World: A Talk with an Indie Bookstore Owner

All book-lovers know the digital revolution is having an impact on independent bookstores. Except for Barnes & Noble, the chains are gone. Fewer and fewer independent bookstores have survived the onslaught of online retailing. I thought it would be illuminating to talk with Annie Philbrick, co-owner of the Bank Square Bookstore, an independent business located in Mystic Connecticut.

Despite enormous competition from online retailers, and though the store was closed for weeks in the aftermath o...