An iconic English-language bookstore that has graced Guadalajara’s leafy Colonia Chapalita for the past 47 years is about to close its doors.
Time has caught up with Sandi Bookstore, in its heyday a magnet for everyone and anyone eager to get their hands on the English written word, whether in book, magazine or newspaper form.
For around three decades, Libreria Sandi was the place to go in Guadalajara for English-language material. It wasn’t just indispensable for expats, but also students studying at the Universidad Autonoma de Guadalalara’s (UAG) English-language medical school, as well as younger ones enrolled at the growing number of private primary and secondary schools with English on their curriculums.
The store was started in 1970 by Pat and Sandra Day, a Mexican-English/Canadian couple who had moved to Guadalajara from Mexico City.
It began life in a small rented locale on Avenida de Las Rosas, before shortly moving further up the street to the corner of Tepeyac, where a cake shop now operates. Before long, the Days had purchased a larger property across the street and moved the growing bookstore into the home where it stayed for the next four decades.
The Days’ son Eric has been at the helm of the store for the past 17 years. (His parents have both retired and now live at lakeside.)
“A lot of people have told me they are sad we are closing down, and it makes me feel proud that they valued our work,” he told the Reporter this week. “This was my life project and to see it come to an end is hard, but on the other hand, I feel pride in all that we achieved.”
Day cited a number of factors that contributed to the decision to close the store, most significantly the internet, Amazon and the economy.
“People are lazy and many now just prefer to google for information instead of reading a complete book about a theme,” Day said. “They want simple direct answers instead of books with more research behind them. And Amazon hasn’t helped at all, especially now that they have offices in Mexico. That really hurt us. And, of course, the economy is not helping. People have less money to spend.”
Fortunately for the Days, UAG’ medical program started shortly after Sandi Bookstore opened. Eric Day remembers when medical students would “literally be lining up to buy their English-language text books.” With many text books now available online, those times, he reflected, have long since disappeared.
The store suffered its share of ups and downs over the years, Day acknowledged. The first major devaluation crisis in 1976, when the exchange rate jumped from 12.50 to 20.50 pesos per U.S. dollar overnight, was a chastening experience.
“That was really tough on the store,” Day said. “I remember my parents having a very rough time of it. But they learned their lesson and the next devaluations were not as bad because they knew how to work them.”
Despite having to close the store, Day conceded that there will be financial compensations. Ten years ago he undertook a major reconstruction of the building, which features ample parking for such a popular and congested zone. The market value of the property is assuredly high and there will be no shortage of suitors hoping to move in their businesses.
Day is under no illusions about the future of the book industry but does not believe it is a dying trade.
“I always thought physical books would come to an end some time, but to be honest I’ve never thought that would be in my lifetime. I always believed my children would be able to [inherit] the bookstore, like I did.”
Sandi Bookstore will be shutting its doors for the final time on Wednesday, August 23. Through this date, the store is offering 30 percent off all books, as well as some other discounts. Most of the furniture has been sold, although some pieces may remain.
Sandi Bookstore is located at Avenida Tepeyac 718, corner of Las Rosas, in Colonia Chapalita. Telephone: (33) 3121-0863.