Babylon Falling-Blog-

Babylon Falling is officially one year old today! I originally imagined this post as a feature documenting, in detail, how one goes about opening a bookstore but after assembling a bunch of pictures and typing for way too long realized that it all amounted to minutiae and personal preference…flooring, shelving, lighting, location, etc. The one thing I will say is that the wisest thing I did was to join both the American Booksellers Association (ABA) and the Northern California Booksellers Association (NCIBA) the minute it became apparent that this was actually going to happen.

I’m a complete outsider. I have no family in the publishing business or the bookselling industry. No money funneled through bullshit consulting jobs from those corporate vultures who can’t do their own job. This store was born and grew in the most organic way possible and that’s the thing I am most proud of. All the forward thinking customers who have supported, all the amazingly talented artists who have exhibited here, all the family and friends who saw what couldn’t be articulated…everyone who has given this little store a chance. Respect. Forward Ever.

So in lieu of a how to for booksellers here’s a brief timeline, from then till now.

Give thanks to the Treo found this place listed on Craigslist while out at dinner. Dream neighborhood.

Much to do.

This drawing is especially hilarious because of how off the measurements were. Many headaches resulted from this ‘blueprint’.

The original concept for the store was simply Revolution. That list continued for a few pages.

A particularly inspired idea from Simon.

At about 10 at night a bum stepped in the store, leaned back with two thumbs up, and gave some sound art direction…stop immediately and go home.

Just getting started.

Official.

We’ll be having a party on Thursday the 26th to celebrate Babylon Falling’s 1 year anniversary. If you’re reading this you’re invited. David Choong Lee will be DJing, you’ll be serving yourself free beer (wine, coffee…no cheese and no crackers), and we will be debuting the Babylon Falling tshirt line featuring designs from almost all of the artists that have exhibited here as well as a couple from future shows. These include Emory Douglas, David Choong Lee, Peter Simon, Le Bijoutier, Robert Bowen, John Felix Arnold III, D. Young V, and Simon Benjamin/Kingston 6 who designed the logo, is responsible for the flying books mural, and so much more.

Check the blog for artwork, previews, and shots of the shirts being screened in the next couple weeks.

This entry was posted on Wednesday, June 11th, 2008 at 11:04 am and is filed under Of Interest/Nostalgia. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Responses are currently closed, but you can trackback from your own site.