Libreria Martinez--Closing :-( ?

• Hi Gustavo!...:-) Rueben has been such an inspirational entrepreneur that has helped so our community. As a consultant for the Institute of Women Entreprenuers, and a business owner. Rueben is facing what other entrepreneurs are facing. There are many business owners, whom have supported many community causes and are now facing the same challenge. Running a business is extremely hard. If the community does not support small business owners, there will be less and less business such as Rueben. Addy

• Maybe the store would have worked better as a cultural center with a DISPLAY of books and a link to Amazon.com. He'd get a cut of the profit, since that's how Amazon encourages people to put their ads on blogs and such, people would have things delivered to their homes (even gift-wrapped!), and he wouldn't have to worry about inventory or the amount of money he's paying in salary. Bookstores are a "buggy whip" business in today's society. People who decided to manufacture buggy whips in the days when Fords first came out made a very bad investment. This is a very similar situation. The themes of "I did" or "I would have" run through this blog entry's thread. I have had the distinct honor of having met Mr. Martinez on several occasions and have great respect for his ideals. I fear, however, that his method of transmitting his ideals remain rooted in the twentieth century rather than in this century. He is one of the cultural icons of California, and, by receiving the MacArthur award, a cultural treasure of the nation. We, as a community, need to find a way to move him forward in time. He would be a much better presence on one of the currently nasty 500 channel choices than we have today than as a pioneering business in an "iffy" neighborhood.

• Wow, don't we feel like shit! Yes, we who admire such community landmarks, yet have done nothing to help ensure their survival. When I first heard of Mr.Reuben Martinez (on a special about him and his bookstore, en noticias 34) I felt a great sense of pride knowing a place like this existed in Orange County. I am ashamed to admit that since then, I've only been there once to buy a book. I buy at least a book a week and all of them at Borders for the convenience of how close it is to my job (not to mention these are books that I'm almost sure I could find at the Libreria Martinez!). Borders could do without my business from now on all my future purposes will be made at the libreria Martinez! I will post my conserns about this great place on a bulletin on my myspace page and urge others to repost and go buy books! Lets all help spread the word!

• Outrageous. We'll post something on La Bloga this Monday to rally the troops. Thanks for getting the word out.

• Everyone: Gracias for the kind words, and follow DRE's (como estas?) advice!

• Business is business, but not when it's a business that's about uplifting the community by promoting literacy and education. Libreria Martinez does just that for the Santa Ana and Greater Orange County community. Short term plan: Don't eat out for lunch or dinner this week/month (make your own cup of joe at home), and go to Libreria Martinez and buy a book. Long term plan: Lobby support by spreading the word in the community, other business owners, newspapers, political peeps, deep pockets...whomever. The answer is within us as a community! Let's save Libreria Martinez!!!!

• That sucks. I used to go there to get books to learn Spanish by.

• Gustavo: Thanks for the notice. How about getting schools and students involved. I'm announcing it to all my classes and to my colleagues here at Irvine Valley College, suggesting visits and shopping in the bookstore. I think a grass roots based fundraiser is a great idea. Let me know what needs to be done.

• Watch as the City Council lets Martinez die as they give more money to hipster FAGS.

• I bet the High School of the Arts either needs or just wants that space for themselves. And of course the city will use the taxpayers dollars to pay the rent.

• No big news here or results for that matter. This country has been dumbing down for some time now: Just look at the millions and millions of pendejos that voted for the pendojo Bush.. God forbid if an I-Pod Store (or whatever the fuck you call them) was closing. Nobody reads anymore and the right wing fascist hijos de su put* madres prefer it that way. Congrats, people, now go and plug your a-hole into your latest gadget...

• As Orange County's leading conservative commentator, Pete Fundy believes that Assemblyman Jose Solorio should be commended for his efforts to fund the aforementioned FREAKING ANTEATER EXHIBIT. For the sake of entertainment, of course. Warmly yours, Pete Fundy Senior Editorial Writer OCLegend.Com

• thanks for getting the word out Gustavo -

• This is terrible!! We have to do everything to save this place!! I've been going there since I was 17 years old...

• Steve: I completely agree with you--better private donations help than city money. But if the city's going to insist on backing projects for the benefit of the "community," better they subsidize books than two anteaters--and I like anteaters!

• effing hell. that place is a landmark. granted i'm partly to blame because i've only been in once but this still sucks.

• Say it ain't so! I hope something can be done. BTW, I heard that Pulido was promised free rides at the anteater exhibit...

• Gustavo: Rueben is an absolutely great guy, but the answer isn't for the city (taxpayers) to subsidize his book store and turn it into a glorified government-backed project. It's for more people in the private sector to support this enterprise. How about a big fund-raiser there? Maybe a grant from the Irvine Co. or some private group? Couldn't hurt to try.

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