The American Book Center officially opens doors at Spui 12.
Press Release: Amsterdam November 17, 2006
This Thursday, November 23rd 2006, the American Book Center will officially open the new location at Spui 12 in Amsterdam. This date is especially chosen: it’s Thanksgiving Day in the United States, a nationwide holiday to stop and give thanks for the year past. Visitors receive 10-% extra discount on their purchases. The whole day is always a party with activities for grown ups as well as children, ending with a potluck traditional turkey dinner in the ABC Treehouse.
The American Book Center has distinguished itself since its start in 1972 as an independent English language bookstore. While the assortment in many bookstores is determined centrally, the American Book Center chose another approach. “ We want to profile ourselves as booksellers with our own vision, a personal touch”, explains Lynn Kaplanian-Buller, director and co-owner. “Listening to the wishes of the customers allows us to signal new trends. Our experts analyze and translate these wishes into books on the shelf to feed emerging demands. In this way we are trendsetters rather than trendfollowers, the place to be for a surprising book. After nearly 35 years it’s time to trade our shop between the clothes and shoe stores for the “booksquare” on the Spui. We are proud of this beautiful historical building and hope that even more booklovers will come get acquainted with our unique assortment.”
The new building has undergone a drastic renovation. A light, open design in natural materials attracts. Architect Yaniv Turgeman designed an interior which entices the visitor to keep moving upwards along he 40 foot high book wall which rises through all four floors. Just inside the front entry stands a symbolic “source of all books”, a 20 foot high tree trunk from a 35 year old poplar, the tree sort often used to produce paper for books. On the first floor one finds a pianola, a piano from the previous renters which plays itself and provides musical food for the building. An eyecatcher on the second floor is the Wounded Wall which reminds the viewer of all the hacking, sawing and drilling necessary to make a finished wall. The original 150- year- old paint covering is visible here. Finally, when one has reached the top, the visitor is rewarded by the tranquility of The White Room, a place to rest.
The building is accessible for wheel chairs.
This Thursday, November 23rd 2006, the American Book Center will officially open the new location at Spui 12 in Amsterdam. This date is especially chosen: it’s Thanksgiving Day in the United States, a nationwide holiday to stop and give thanks for the year past. Visitors receive 10-% extra discount on their purchases. The whole day is always a party with activities for grown ups as well as children, ending with a potluck traditional turkey dinner in the ABC Treehouse.
The American Book Center has distinguished itself since its start in 1972 as an independent English language bookstore. While the assortment in many bookstores is determined centrally, the American Book Center chose another approach. “ We want to profile ourselves as booksellers with our own vision, a personal touch”, explains Lynn Kaplanian-Buller, director and co-owner. “Listening to the wishes of the customers allows us to signal new trends. Our experts analyze and translate these wishes into books on the shelf to feed emerging demands. In this way we are trendsetters rather than trendfollowers, the place to be for a surprising book. After nearly 35 years it’s time to trade our shop between the clothes and shoe stores for the “booksquare” on the Spui. We are proud of this beautiful historical building and hope that even more booklovers will come get acquainted with our unique assortment.”
The new building has undergone a drastic renovation. A light, open design in natural materials attracts. Architect Yaniv Turgeman designed an interior which entices the visitor to keep moving upwards along he 40 foot high book wall which rises through all four floors. Just inside the front entry stands a symbolic “source of all books”, a 20 foot high tree trunk from a 35 year old poplar, the tree sort often used to produce paper for books. On the first floor one finds a pianola, a piano from the previous renters which plays itself and provides musical food for the building. An eyecatcher on the second floor is the Wounded Wall which reminds the viewer of all the hacking, sawing and drilling necessary to make a finished wall. The original 150- year- old paint covering is visible here. Finally, when one has reached the top, the visitor is rewarded by the tranquility of The White Room, a place to rest.
The building is accessible for wheel chairs.
posted by ABCMove at 3:48 PM
5 Comments:
Wow, nice store design. Now if only I were a little bit taller to reach bookwall shelfs above 9 feet.... Must be hard to sell those books.
Yay! Congratulations!
Hi, I visited the store today for the first time - I am not an Amsterdam resident, but visit here four or five times a year and have always enjoyed my time in the ABC on the Kalverstraat.
I have to say I am quite disappointed with the new store - it is messy, hectic, impossible to find any books I wanted without asking, browsing is made difficult by the lack of space, no seating, and endless green crates cluttering the building. It seems that the store is much smaller than the previous one....
The hideously tall bookshelves are not inviting, there are no signs to help me navigate the store.....
Unfortunately I left the building very quickly, something I have never done before and went elswhere to shop.
I hope you will find a way to bring some improvements, it would be sad to see the ABC go downhill :(
You might want to give them another try. Yes, it seems messy and hectic at first, but on second glance there is a system to it. Even though I do hope for signs that will tells us which section starts where.
I don't remember any seating from before, and at least the Scifi department is now more roomy than it was.
The tall shelves are only show. If you look closer you'll see that everything is in reach as it always was. All the rest is filler/stock.
So while I agree it'll take some getting used to, you will certainly continue seeing me in the store!
Oh yeah, there was some seating in the old store. One chair here and there.
I have the same point, it looks that the new store is smaller. And browsing the store is difficult, missing the signs, and finding the books i came for was impossible without asking! Maybe the future brings some improvement
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