Spui 12 - The Move, continuing story…

No, we're not over yet… we won't actually move from the Kalverstraat to our new Spui location until the summer of 2006. Right now we're busy with the architect, exploring adaptations to the various levels so that folks with wheelchairs and buggies can easily reach all the floors. It's a challenge!

Let me say thank you for all of you who have already sent your comments and suggestions to move@abc.nl. We carefully consider all feedback, even though each idea might not have gotten a personal response. Many people want us to have a coffee shop - but we can't get permission to do that in the building. We're hoping to make a deal with a café closeby to provide all our caffeine needs.

Keep those ideas coming!

Amsterdam store moving on in 2006

At The American Book Center, a chance comes along for a better location about once every twenty years, and this is our lucky year! The Amsterdam store will move from the heavily perfume- and fashion-filled Kalverstraat to a classier location on Spui 12, home of several bookstores and the weekly book market. The building at the Spui originally housed a literary society, then a goldsmith and since 1932 the walls have been saturated with the sounds of pianos. Ypma piano store, the Dutch agent of Steinway and Sons, will move to Alkmaar in March of 2006. After restoration work on the building's foundation, we hope to move over in July of the same year.

The space is lovely. It's light and prominently situated on three tram lines, with the metro stop at the Rokin soon to be finished, and with lots of places to lock up bikes. It's about the same size as what we now use, except for our warehousing areas. We're making arrangements to suit our new warehousing needs. The sales space accordions up over several levels, which will be home to our many specialized sections.

What's also really lovely is that the owner will use our rent money to fund all kinds of projects for people in need in the city of Amsterdam. The building has the name "Eensgezindheid", which translates as "Unity." We hope that all our customers will find us in our new place, just one block up the street on the square, even closer to the ABC Treehouse than our present location.

If you notice our staff dazed and starry eyed, it's because we're all dreaming up ideas of what we want the new bookstore to be and how we want it to look. What will we take with us and what not? Will we have solar panels? Will the walls be pink or periwinkle? How can we look like the innovative, customer-welcoming, independent-minded shop we are while respecting the building's past? For once, we have time enough to consider and design the new bookhome, and we'd love to have your ideas. Send them to move@abc.nl. Although we cannot answer each individual submission, we will read and consider each one with care. With your cooperation, we will continue to deliver The Personal Touch in our new bookstore home for at least another 25 years.

P.S.There are no plans to move the Hague store.