#7: Independent Bookstores
While some community bookstores still exist in tight-knit communities, chains like Barnes & Noble and Amazon caused many local bookshops to shutter. In their heyday, the local bookstore was more than a place to buy books; it was a gathering space. Author signings, readings, and literary events filled its calendar, where book lovers of all shapes and sizes could rub elbows or enjoy a quiet afternoon with a newly found title.
