When Amazon started, many physical book stores struggled... The Borders chain closed its doors for good...
Now... A Tokyo bookstore is even
charging a $13 entrance fee just to go in!
However, they stock their bookstore with unusual and rare books - and only have one copy of each in stock.
They put up a book-related exhibition in their lobby - so in that way, it's a little bit like a mini-museum...
They have a cafe with - can you believe it -
free coffee and green tea!
They sell meals and desserts there too (the meals and desserts aren't free though)...
It also has a library-like set up, so you can sit down and read to your heart's content...
This is a new concept... I hope it works! I'd love it if a bookstore like this opened near me... Yeah, I'd probably pay the entrance fee (but I'd make sure I'd get my money's worth in coffee)!
This New Tokyo Bookstore Charges a $13 Admission Fee
https://www.cntraveler.com/story/new...-admission-fee
Bunkitsu bookstore in tokyo charges a fee to access its curated collection of books
https://www.designboom.com/architect...yo-12-21-2018/
Best wishes,
Dien