$4.50 paperbacks no more: McIntyre and Moore to close in April

By Alix Roy

McIntyre and Moore Booksellers will close their doors in Davis Square when their lease expires on April 1. Diminishing sales and a changing consumer attitude towards used books have contributed to the store’s decision to downsize after almost ten years at their Elm Street location. No decision has been made as to where they will end up, although the owners hope to relocate within walking distance to “try and remain as local as possible.” 

The store is independently owned and operated by Michael McIntyre and Daniel Moore, who set up shop in 1983 in Harvard Square, a “popular destination for used-book stores in the eighties.” The business moved to Davis Square in 1998 and quickly became a Somerville landmark for literary enthusiasts looking for a place to browse thousands of titles on everything from the Korean War to Polar exploration. The store’s current size can accommodate daily new arrivals as well as older stock without overcrowding, and has allowed McIntyre and Moore to host local author events and the monthly Davis Square Philosophy Café, a community-wide forum for philosophical discussion.

Unfortunately, space is a luxury McIntyre and Moore can no longer afford. Store manager Peter Coyle attributes lagging sales in part to the death of the browsing culture that large businesses depend upon to stay afloat. “It used to be that people would look for a book for two or three years, buying other books in the meantime,” he said. “Now with the Internet people go online and find everything instantly.”

The lack of browsers has hit stores like McIntyre and Moore especially hard, while sparing the smaller, more specialized stores that carry one or two genres at most. “The model of huge [used] bookstores is going by way of the dodo,” Coyle said. “If we don’t change we could be one of those places formerly known as a bookstore.”

McIntyre and Moore is not the first used retail store to be pushed out of Davis Square after suffering from dwindling profits. Disc Diggers, a used-record store, left the neighborhood in 2004 due to rising rent and loss of business. Coyle has no problem with realtor Mike Gorin who he said has been “very reasonable” given the size and location of the store’s current space. Instead, he faults the changing culture of Davis Square, which has become more of an “entertainment destination” in recent years.
“I’d say around 2000 we started noticing a downtick. We’ve been struggling along with it ever since,” Coyle said.

Davis Square does have its fair share of eateries, although very few chains exist. Ward 6 alderman Rebekah Gewirtz said that although the loss of McIntyre and Moore is “not something we want to see,” in general the square has proven to be a haven for small independent businesses.

“McIntyre & Moore has been in the square for ten years now and they’ve provided something unique and interesting, a place where people can go in and look around. I’d like to see it replaced by another locally owned business,” she said.

Over the next few months, McIntyre and Moore will be forced to drastically reduce inventory in preparation for their move. In the future, Coyle said, inventory will be “more carefully selected,” and events may be eliminated altogether, since floor and shelf-space will be limited.

“$4.50 paperbacks will be no more,” he added. “It’s sad, but things have to evolve.”

Comments

[Doug Holder]

Along with the loss of Jimmy Tingle's this is a great loss for the square. I hope we will get something that will bring the arts to the square. Not another Mexican rest please or a CVS please. Anyone will tell you an active cultural scene brings business in...or else you will have another Medford Square, etc... McIntyre and Moore has helped many small presses, and local authors...we hope they find a place near by...

[Imux]

Is it just me or does everyone agree that a strip club work very nicely in that location. We need some more variety down in Davis and that should help push the freaks out. Also, it's a pain driving down to the Foxy Lady and having to drive back all lumped up. I prefer a short walk for my entertainment.

[Gloria Mindock]

What a loss this is for Davis Square. This bookstore has been so good to Cervena Barva Press, Ibbetson St. Press, other small presses and hosted some wonderful events. Peter Coyle is a great manager. This store is a gem, a rarity. I hope they move close by.
Davis Square does not need anymore eateries!!! It needs to cherish the culture it has. With this bookstore moving, it seems like the square will lose its appeal. Now it will be just a retail and food square. Jimmy Tingle's just closed. What's next? The square is in danger of becoming very boring!
Thank you McIntyre & Moore's for everything. I'll see you at your next location!!!!!
Gloria Mindock

[Big Brother]

Gee, that's a shame.

[Somer_Salted]

Imus, since you have been afflicted with "PD" (Permanent Detumesence) for some while, you shouldn't push for a strip joint in Davis Sq.

For that matter, you would drive business away if you went Full Monty on any stage. It would be declared a disaster area, property values would plummet, etc....

[PDSers]

What now.....you sick of vegie wraps and carrot juice drinks? Did I hear a poster hear say "Davis Square does not need anymore eateries!!!" What no more high end muffin shops?
What a joke. It's people like you (PDS) that brought these kind of establishments in, now you are as sick of them as I am.

If it wasn't for McKinnons meat market I wouldn't step foot in Davis Square.

You carpetbaggers got what you asked for, now live with it.

Why do you think the bookstore closed? Get a clue and dust off your library card!

[DB]

This blows. Truly. Without McIntyre & Moore, Davis seems like a wasteland. A few other bogus recent developments in the square: Diesel got rid of their small cups, the Goodwill is under new management and it's gross and depressing to go in there...
yep....davis square is on a fast decline.

[steve]

all i use davis for is mcd's dunkins, family dollar, mckinnon's (since 1966!) goodwill. and

of course - the sligo pub. but i never go out of my way.

actually verna's in no.camb is better - ind.

donut shops are going the way of the old FULL

SERVICE gas stations. supreme deli was the best.

davis is more ethinic and collegy really.

it's not the same - and just getting worse.

bowl haven now, too? what the hell! i loved

robbins when joanne was there but what a b^&ch

sometimes! la contessa gone. and the someday -

dont rank on it - it was great - that owner was a

shithead and the crape place(pun intended) woundnt

hire any of somedays folks... youd have to PAY ME

to go in there.

the dor, oh well....

[Fred]

I'm very sorry to see them go (or, at least, get smaller and move nearby), but this isn't the DEATH OF THE SQUARE or anything ridiculous like that.

Look at the changes from the past year:
La Contessa closed... and will become a locally-owned sushi place.
Sacco's is closing... to become a locally-owned community center with the original alleys.
The movie theatre keeps getting better and better.
The ridiculous Halloween store became a burrito joint... well, that's progress anyway.
The nasty discount store closed to let the locally-owned Blue Shirt to expand.

And, DB, if you think Diesel using different-sized cups is a sign of the demise of the entire square, that's just sad.

[Ron Newman]

Blue Shirt is expanding?

[JPM]

This is progress for Davis Square. I just wish those crappy dollar stores businesses on that saide of the street would close down as well. I shopped in Mackinons a couple of times and their meat cuts are dreadful...it is cheap garbage. You get what you pay for.

[Ron Newman]

I don't know of any other "dollar stores" in Davis except Family Dollar, which I do shop in occasionally.

[steve]

dollar stores and family dollar are great for those on a fixed income. like me.

as well as the dollar menu at wendys. mcds cut
down theirs. the ham/chsburger sundae and the 2 apple pies (tasty!) thats it.

when i go to dunkins i get my coffee i get mcd apple pies to save money. mcds coffee isin't
bad either. try it.

mckinnons. - well as long as you get grnd beef or chicken or pork. the steak is really tough.

i did hear they get their meat from a "bum steer". where else can you get eggs for a buck?

"sligo brew" is gone - it tasted like they p%^*(ed in the glass but only a buck.

you go every day decent name brands cheep at good will like polo ralph lauren.

rosebud is good but way overpriced. spikes a great addition. out of the blue great for fish and chips. their 1st location was the old kay and chips. i miss it. drove cab in camb. in the early 80's went there every night after work (2-3am).

[steve]

dollar stores and family dollar are great for those on a fixed income. like me.

as well as the dollar menu at wendys. mcds cut
down theirs. the ham/chsburger sundae and the 2 apple pies (tasty!) thats it.

when i go to dunkins i get my coffee i get mcd apple pies to save money. mcds coffee isin't
bad either. try it.

mckinnons. - well as long as you get grnd beef or chicken or pork. the steak is really tough.

i did hear they get their meat from a "bum steer". where else can you get eggs for a buck?

"sligo brew" is gone - it tasted like they p%^*(ed in the glass but only a buck.

you go every day decent name brands cheep at good will like polo ralph lauren.

rosebud is good but way overpriced. spikes a great addition. out of the blue great for fish and chips. their 1st location was the old kay and chips. i miss it. drove cab in camb. in the early 80's went there every night after work (2-3am).