Reader: Denver Has Lost Enough. We Should Not Lose Tattered Cover, Too

The New Yorker's Instagram recently showcased a list of winter book picks from Tattered Cover, billed as "one of the U.S.’s largest independent-bookstore businesses." Not quite: Tattered Cover hasn't been independent since July, when it was bought out of bankruptcy by mega-chain Barnes & Noble.

When B&N announced its purchase of Tattered for $1.83 million this summer — which had gone through three owners since the legendary Joyce Meskis retired — there were as many groans as there were cheers. Despite assurances to the contrary from the buyer, people wondered if the big-box blandness of B&N would erase the warm, homey Tattered Cover vibe. Would a major chunk of Denver's cultural DNA be rendered synthetic? Was the cure worse than the disease?

Jason Heller looked into Tattered's next chapter in this week's cover story, "Battered Cover." And in their comments sent via email and posted on the Westword Facebook and Instagram pages, readers have been sharing enough thoughts about the piece and the business itself to fill a book. Says Sally: 

Tattered Cover now owned by Barnes & Noble? Joyce Meskis must be rolling over in her grave.

Responds Amanda:

Imagine crying because this business was saved. 

Adds Emily: 

Denver has lost enough. We could not lose Tattered Cover, too. Although it makes me squirm to think I'm walking into a Barnes & Noble store when I go inside, I'm willing to give it a try.

Notes Chris: 

Better Barnes & Noble than Amazon.

Adds Larry: 

I would think Barnes & Noble would like the location to be profitable, so changes were definitely necessary.

And Brad Dempsey, the former CEO, offers this: 

Disappointing bah-humbug article by Jason Heller, Patricia Calhoun and Westword. No actual customers were interviewed or included for this article? No publishers or authors (like Peter Heller or Craig Johnson, who just recently did events)? No mention of far better benefits for employees?

Letting Spearman opine is like allowing someone who causes a forest fire to critique the firefighting response. Without Barnes & Noble, the East Colfax store would be closed and dark now, author events eliminated, all Colfax employees laid off, and Denver would not be collecting sales tax revenues.

Now that Barnes & Noble has committed to supporting Tattered Cover for another twenty years at Colfax and other locations with better inventory and benefits, let’s let Coloradans decide if it would have been better to close Tattered Cover for good, or support its Colorado staff in this next chapter. I urge all to visit, thank the legendary staff for working through very challenging times, and put this in the win column for a city that needs some wins. 

Would you like to share your memories about Tattered Cover? Share your thoughts about the current situation? Post a comment or email [email protected].