Midnight Special Bookstore

Last updated
Midnight Special Bookstore
Company type Private
Industry Retail
Genrefocus on left-wing politics
Founded Venice, California, United States (1970 (1970))
DefunctJune 2, 2004 (2004-June-02) [1]
FateDissolved
Headquarters
Santa Monica, California
,
United States
Number of locations
1
Key people
Margie Ghiz, final owner [2]
Products book retailer
Websitewww.msbooks.com (defunct)

The Midnight Special Bookstore was an independent bookstore in southern California. It catered to a leftist clientele. [3] [4] Its merchandise and events emphasized current events such as the civil rights movement, the Vietnam War, [5] the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, [6] the Chinese democracy movement [7] and U.S. intervention in Afghanistan and Iraq. [8]

History

Founded in 1970 as a co-op in Venice, [3] the shop "was run predominantly by volunteers" until around 1985. [5]

In 1980 [5] it moved from Venice to 1350 Third Street [9] (also known as 1350 Santa Monica Mall [10] ) in Santa Monica, then in 1992 [5] moved again to 1318 Third Street Promenade. [11] [12] For more than ten years, the mall's landlord charged the shop less rent than other tenants were paying, [13] but with a change in management and success in attracting upscale tenants, the mall operator asked for an increase that would "more than double" [2] the rent. For this reason, the bookstore moved out of its Third Street location in March 2003. [4] Its stock was kept in storage for eight months. In November 2003, [8] [14] [15] the store reopened at 1450 Second Street [16] [17] [18] in Santa Monica, then finally closed around June 2, 2004. [1] Its owner cited weak sales and continuing financial difficulties as the reason for closing:

Unfortunately, the delay was too great and our debts grew with the delays. Only local outlets of major chains can afford the losses that come with opening stores; even though our sales were steadily growing, it was not fast enough to keep us going until we could sustain ourselves. [1]

Authors who appeared at the shop:

Among other people who made appearances at the shop were filmmakers Robert Greenwald [22] and Oliver Stone, [5] actor David Warshofsky, [22] Elaine Brown of the Black Panther Party, UCLA professor Khaled Abou El Fadl; and musicians Dave Marsh, Jello Biafra, Frank Zappa [5] and Ray Manzarek. [25]

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References

  1. 1 2 3 "The Midnight Special Says Goodbye and Thank You". Archived from the original on June 7, 2004. Retrieved 2013-01-28.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  2. 1 2 Tawa, Renee (2003-02-21). "Midnight Special Bookstore going; but where? – Los Angeles Times". Articles.latimes.com. Retrieved 2013-01-28.
  3. 1 2 "Last Chapter for an Iconic Bookstore – Los Angeles Times". Articles.latimes.com. 2004-05-09. Retrieved 2013-01-28.
  4. 1 2 3 Al Martinez (2003-03-07). "A poignant farewell to a radical refuge – Los Angeles Times". Articles.latimes.com. Retrieved 2013-01-28.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 "History of the Midnight Special Bookstore". Archived from the original on June 19, 2004. Retrieved 20 January 2013.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  6. ↑ Haithman, Diane (1994-09-10). "Mideast Pact Adds Meaning to Tonight's 'Voices' Program – Los Angeles Times". Articles.latimes.com. Retrieved 2013-01-28.
  7. ↑ Miller, Michelle M. (1989-06-08). "Crisis in China Translates Into New Reader Interest – Los Angeles Times". Articles.latimes.com. Retrieved 2013-01-28.
  8. 1 2 "Everlovin' Lights Are Back On at Midnight Special | Bookselling This Week". News.bookweb.org. Retrieved 2013-01-28.
  9. ↑ Jake Doherty (2007-09-03). "WESTLAKE : Pictures Worth a Thousand Vacuums". Articles.latimes.com. Retrieved 2013-01-28.
  10. ↑ "Novelists to Appear at Santa Monica Bookstore Sunday – Los Angeles Times". Articles.latimes.com. 1987-08-28. Retrieved 2013-01-28.
  11. ↑ "BRIEFLY : Politics: Speech on N. Ireland Conflict – Los Angeles Times". Articles.latimes.com. 1994-03-10. Retrieved 2013-01-28.
  12. ↑ "Midnight Special Bookstore Santa Monica". Citysearch.
  13. ↑ "Customers Rally Around the Store as Midnight Special Announces Upcoming Move | Bookselling This Week". News.bookweb.org. Retrieved 2013-01-28.
  14. ↑ "Santa_Monica_News_Midnight Special Bookstore Opens New Chapter". Surfsantamonica.com. Retrieved 2013-01-28.
  15. ↑ "Midnight Special Bookstore to Close Its Doors | Bookselling This Week". News.bookweb.org. Retrieved 2013-01-28.
  16. ↑ "Midnight Special Bookstore". 2004-06-29. Archived from the original on June 29, 2004. Retrieved 2013-01-28.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  17. ↑ "Midnight Special Bookstore – Santa Monica, California – Yahoo! Travel". Travel.yahoo.com. Retrieved 2013-01-28.
  18. ↑ "Midnight Special Book Store in Santa Monica | Midnight Special Book Store (310) 393-2923 & 1450 2nd St, Santa Monica, CA 90401 | – Yahoo! US Local". Local.yahoo.com. Retrieved 2013-01-28.
  19. ↑ "Final Event at Midnight Special". LAObserved. 2004-11-04. Retrieved 2017-08-18.
  20. ↑ "Little press shines with star power – Los Angeles Times". Articles.latimes.com. 2004-03-03. Retrieved 2013-01-28.
  21. ↑ "Viggo Mortensen > Midnight Special Bookstore". Chucks888.freeservers.com. Archived from the original on 2008-05-14. Retrieved 2013-01-28.
  22. 1 2 3 "Goodnight Midnight". Archived from the original on June 7, 2004. Retrieved 2013-01-28.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  23. ↑ "Tavis Smiley to Sign, Discuss 'Hard Left' – Los Angeles Times". Articles.latimes.com. 1996-08-17. Retrieved 2013-01-28.
  24. ↑ "Horowitz to Discuss Life as a Reporter – Los Angeles Times". Articles.latimes.com. 2001-09-27. Retrieved 2013-01-28.
  25. ↑ "From The Vault weblog archives for July, 2011" . Retrieved 2013-01-28.

34°00′49″N118°29′46″W / 34.0136°N 118.4962°W / 34.0136; -118.4962

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