Independent booksellers hold tight to their niche

The Daily Herald (Chicago): They've battled the big guys, the Internet, the downward spiral of the economy. Now, in the tradition of all great drama, independent suburban bookstores are writing a whole new chapter on survival.

Stores like the decades-old Anderson's in Naperville, Town House Books in St. Charles and Crocodile Pie in Libertyville faced challenges even before the recession. But in these tough times, they're getting by — and their story isn't as bleak as other retailers.

The chains that thinned the ranks of independent bookstores are now hurting, leaving room for booksellers who have established roots in the suburbs, nurtured faithful customers and fostered strong relationships with New York publishers that make it a point to have authors stop by for events.

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