Tuesday, November 21, 2006

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.

Tuesday, October 31, 2006

Pregnant with a bookstore on a surfboard

Dear folks,
The moving process is way later than anyone expected because the construction just is not yet done. Up till the end of August, everything seemed to be in place for finishing up by Oct. 1 so that we could come right over after our absolute last day at Kalverstraat 185. But... in spite of overwork and immense motivation on the part of the builders, without steel for the staircases, lots of other things can't be finished. We hope to receive the steel railings today, Oct. 30th, and to finish off the first floor this week so that some of these books can find their new places and the first floor can open. The science fiction books will come up a little bit later, when their home along the ramp is safe to shelve.
Why am I still so calm, people ask. After all, the store has practically no sales for a month while salaries and other expenses continue. Isnt it scary? It is, and yet it can't be. It's very much like giving birth as a mother. A long period of anticipation is followed by uncertainty, pain, extremely hard work and undescribable joy. Just like with a pregnancy, you begin a life-changing process which normally turns out all right but occasionally not. The due date is known but the actual date of birth remains a mystery. There's a person growing inside you, yet you have no control and little knowledge about the possible outcome. Life as you know it will change forever within a short period of time, life as a couple will change in ways unforeseen, and with all this going on, the job of the mother is to stay calm for the health of her baby, her self and those closest to her, like the father of the child.

In this building project, I can't pretend to be in control. (I can suggest, ask questions, nudge and go to experts for counsel.) It feels like swimming under water much of the time - but with the assurance that a surf board is at hand. Although I can't control the waves, I can learn to ride them. Pregnant with a bookstore on a surfboard. Now there's an image!

We colleagues at ABC are frustrated by the long period without our books and our customers. But how are you doing? Write us a note here on our blog and let us know how you are experiencing this unexpected ABC-less period.

Thursday, October 26, 2006

ABC Spui 12 Ground Floor Open

Our new ground floor is open in construction mode!

Special orders, magazines, magazine reservations, calendars, design & photography books and ABC Evergreens are now available during the following opening hours:

Monday - Tuesday - Wednesday: 12.00h - 18.00h
Thursday: 12.00h - 21.00h
Friday - Saturday: 10.00h - 20.00h
Sunday: 11.00h - 18.30h

Friday, October 06, 2006

Temporary Lodgings in Amsterdam

Special Orders and Magazine Reservations can be collected from the ABC Treehouse, Voetboogstraat 11 1012 XK between 10 and 6 pm, from Oct. 5 until the store itself is open.

To make a new special order you can still reach us at 020 6255537 or call our store in The Hague 070 3642742 or order via the website.

ABC has Moved Out!

On October 1st we started the first stage of our move... out of Kalverstraat 185.


The "Kassa" on the First floor was dismantled earlier.


A temporary work station was set up for the last few days.


ABC's collection of junk growing on the fourth floor.


Getting the Basement empty was our first priority on Sunday.


Our (not always) trusty lift didn't let us down at all during the many journies of crates to the Ground Floor.


Backed up crates waiting for loading... and last minute packing.


On the way out!

Wednesday, September 20, 2006

Het Heilige Boekenplein

Dit artikel verscheen op 9 september in Het Parool:

http://www.parool.nl/boeken/2006/artikelen/090906-spui.html

Met veel dank aan Hanneloes Pen en Corrie Verkerk.

Tuesday, September 19, 2006



State of the building Sept. 14, 2006 - still much to do!

Thursday, September 14, 2006

First book bought at American Discount Book Center

On the ABC website, I read that you're interested in names and short descriptions of people's first book(s) bought at the American Discount Book Center.

I think I bought my first book in the Amsterdam store, around 1991. My brother got me interested in fantasy novels, and with a few weeks worth of saved pocket money, I took the bus and train from the small rural town Zierikzee to the Big City, Amsterdam. I had read the first three Dragonlance books, and I bought "Tanis, the Shadow Years", by Barbara Siegel and Scott Siegel (also part of the Dragonlance series), along witht the AD&D 2nd edition Players Handbook.

Nowadays, I live in The Hague, and work at about 10 minutes walking distance from the Lange Poten office. Thanks for offering a great collection of books!

Regards,

Jeroen van Luin.

Spui 12 part of 'Urban Views'




On September 1st a performance was presented by Floor van Keulen and René Oey, titled 'Stadsgezichten' ('Urban Views'). Live made drawings and texts were projected from a car via a video beam on wat soon will be the new American Book Center.

For more information on 'Stadsgezichten/Urban Views' see www.stadsgezichten.com.