Book Soup, Village theaters to close.
December 28th, 2006, 5:49 pm · 5 Comments · posted by jchin
Two of my favorite things in the South Coast Metro are are leaving in January: Edwards South Coast Village 3 is closing on Jan. 4, and Book Soup in South Coast Plaza is closing on Jan. 28.
In the huge shopping-industrial complex that is South Coast Metro, Edwards Village and Book Soup were notable for the way they prioritized quality over what sold best. Hearing that both stores were closing made me feel a little insecure about Orange County: Are we such a boring population that we can’t support two indie-minded businesses?
Edwards’ Village is pretty run down by megaplex standards. But its screenings of limited-release movie and “Flashback Features” (aka “Flashback Wednesdays”) of pop movie classics give the theater character. You can always find a good movie here, and it never gets crowded the way MetroPointe does.
I haven’t been to the Village in a while. I tried to catch David Lynch’s “Blue Velvet” there earlier this year. To my disappointment, the theater used a DVD instead of 35mm film. The projection and sound were very poor, and half an hour into the show, the projector died altogether. That said, I have been to many other screenings when everything worked just fine.
Book Soup, on the other hand, is a place I actually go to on a regular basis. For such a small store (compared to Borders), it has a great selection of fiction, magazines and art books. You don’t see as many prominent displays of low-imagination bestsellers (e.g. “You: On a Diet,” romances, Food Network spinoffs). I love looking at the staff recommendations. When one of my best friends started a nightclub, I bought her a coaster-shaped card from the store. I went there yesterday to buy my 2007 planner. For Christmas, I received David Plotz’s “The Genius Factory” that had been bought from the store.
Mild consolations: Book Soup plans to have a big sale in the next few weeks to clear the store, and the company’s bigger, busier store in Sunset Strip is still open. Also, Edwards Westpark 8 on Alton Parkway and Culver Drive in Irvine will reportedly start screening limited release movies in 2007.
Boooooooooo. We’re running out of movie theaters that don’t have huge long lines for 64 screens that all seem to sell out in advance.
I’m so sad … I always wanted to have an ’80s night and go see “Back to the Future” or someone other flashback film my husband and I love. Now we’ll never have the chance. And I love Book Soup, with it’s “Shop Around the Corner” feel and great events too. Is the store relocating? Or simply sticking to L.A.?
A store clerk told me they’re just sticking to LA. No new location in OC.
Yeah, I feel super boring right now. What is this county coming to?? That makes me sad.
Any news on the Fox Theatre? Maybe if they start picking up the pace, they’ll have some good things to offer that will fill the void?
Gotta say - can’t wait for the sales at Book Soup though!
Unfortunately it appears that we can’t sustain an indie bookstore. I’m bummin’ hard. Book Soup was one of the few reasons I went to SCP. Are there any other indie bookstores to recommend in OC? [I ask skeptically].
As for the SCV Regal…well, I’m bummin’ hard there too, but let’s hope that with the Westpark 8 now showing the art-house fare, they will eventually open up more screens to that kind of stuff.
I believe the Newport Beach Film Fest was one of the sponsors of the Flashback Features. Here’s hoping they find a new theater. I saw Dr. Strangelove last month and it was really well attended. Island Cinemas? I hardly see anyone there anymore.