In a bookstore you can buy books.
A bookstore is a commercial establishment or store that is dedicated to the sale of books . There are bookstores of all types, from small stores with a few copies to entire buildings that offer thousands of publications. Bookstores can belong to a chain with many branches or have a single point of sale.
For example: “He's already been to five bookstores but I still can't find Michael Krepcky's new book,” “My grandson works in a downtown bookstore,” “Two injured in an attempted robbery at a bookstore.”
Types of bookstores
There are general bookstores that sell books on various topics, while others specialize in specific topics. It is possible, in this sense, to find sports bookstores , scientific bookstores , etc.
Bookstores can also sell used books. These stores, in general, are dedicated to buying copies at a certain price to then resell it at a higher price, making a profit on the difference.
Virtual bookstores , for their part, are dedicated to selling books over the Internet . These books can be physical (printed) or digital (to be read on the computer or electronic devices).
The Ateneo Grand Splendid is one of the most famous bookstores in the world.
Famous establishments
Below are some of the most impressive bookstores in the world:
The Ateneo Grand Splendid (Buenos Aires)
It is an old theater, founded in 1919 , which was converted into a bookstore in 2000 . It offers its audience a unique experience, combining an impressive catalog with a peculiar piano bar located on the stage, all framed in an undeniably artistic atmosphere, in which you can breathe almost a century of history while you browse its endless shelves in search of that book that needs us to read.
The design of the theater was carried out by two architects, Torres Armengol and Peró , and its total dimensions exceed 2 thousand square meters.
Cafebrería El Péndulo (Mexico City)
A fusion of coffee and bookstore, no longer as strange as a couple of decades ago, which has managed to establish itself in six branches throughout Mexico City . Without a doubt, its most impressive feature is the presence of lush vegetation within the building itself: a peculiar conjunction between plants and books, making the air you breathe in its facilities something unique.
It was founded in 1993 and has acquired great prestige and relevance at the national level. Today, in addition to offering the latest titles from the world of literature , it is the scene of various concerts, literary courses and book presentations. In its cafeteria it is possible to have all the meals of the day and in two of its establishments there is also bar service.
Barter Books (Alnwick)
Barter Books stands out at first glance for its warm and welcoming atmosphere, which becomes irresistible for regular and casual readers. This peculiar bookstore has a small home, a cafeteria, a room for the little ones and even a model train that runs through the premises, increasing the feeling of magic that characterizes it.
It is worth mentioning that, to add mysticism to this beautiful bookstore, the presence of the little train is not an arbitrary decision, but rather responds to the fact that the building is an old railway station, whose construction dates back to 1887 .
Other uses of the notion of library
In some countries, a store that sells papers, school supplies and various stationery items is known as a bookstore: “I'm going to the bookstore to buy a notebook.” In Spain , these establishments are called stationery stores .
Bookstore, finally, can be used as a synonym for library (a place that houses books or furniture with shelves to place publications): “We have to put a bookcase in the living room to display the volumes of the encyclopedia and other copies.”