Midnight Special Bookstore
{{Short description|Bookstore in Venice, California, United States (1970–2004)}}
{{Infobox company
| name = Midnight Special Bookstore
| logo =
| caption =
| trading_name =
| type = Private
| traded_as =
| industry = Retail
| genre = focus on left-wing politics
| fate = Dissolved
| predecessor =
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| founded = Venice, California, United States ({{Start date|1970}})
| founder =
| defunct = {{End date|2004|06|02}}{{cite web|url=http://www.msbooks.com/the_end.html |title=The Midnight Special Says Goodbye and Thank You |accessdate=2013-01-28 |url-status=unfit |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20040607211910/http://www.msbooks.com/the_end.html |archivedate=June 7, 2004 }}
| location_city = Santa Monica, California
| location_country = United States
| locations = 1
| area_served =
| key_people = Margie Ghiz, final owner{{cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2003-feb-21-et-tawa21-story.html |title=Midnight Special Bookstore going; but where? – Los Angeles Times |publisher=Articles.latimes.com |date=2003-02-21 |access-date=2013-01-28 |first=Renee |last=Tawa}}
| products = book retailer
| production =
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| subsid =
| homepage = www.msbooks.com (defunct)
| footnotes =
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}}
The Midnight Special Bookstore was an independent bookstore in southern California. It catered to a leftist clientele.{{cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2004-may-09-me-books9-story.html |title=Last Chapter for an Iconic Bookstore – Los Angeles Times |publisher=Articles.latimes.com |date=2004-05-09 |access-date=2013-01-28}}{{cite news|author=Al Martinez |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2003-mar-07-et-martinez7-story.html |title=A poignant farewell to a radical refuge – Los Angeles Times |publisher=Articles.latimes.com |date=2003-03-07 |access-date=2013-01-28}} Its merchandise and events emphasized current events such as the civil rights movement, the Vietnam War,{{cite web|url=http://www.msbooks.com/msbooks_history.html |title=History of the Midnight Special Bookstore |accessdate=20 January 2013 |url-status=unfit |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20040619142250/http://www.msbooks.com/msbooks_history.html |archivedate=June 19, 2004 }} the Israeli-Palestinian conflict,{{cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1993-09-11-ca-34039-story.html |title=Mideast Pact Adds Meaning to Tonight's 'Voices' Program – Los Angeles Times |publisher=Articles.latimes.com |date=1994-09-10 |access-date=2013-01-28 |first=Diane |last=Haithman}} the Chinese democracy movement{{cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1989-06-08-vw-2019-story.html |title=Crisis in China Translates Into New Reader Interest – Los Angeles Times |publisher=Articles.latimes.com |date=1989-06-08 |access-date=2013-01-28 |first=Michelle M. |last=Miller}} and U.S. intervention in Afghanistan and Iraq.{{cite web|url=http://news.bookweb.org/news/everlovin-lights-are-back-midnight-special |title=Everlovin' Lights Are Back On at Midnight Special |work=Bookselling This Week |publisher=News.bookweb.org |date= |accessdate=2013-01-28}}
History
Founded in 1970 as a co-op in Venice, the shop "was run predominantly by volunteers" until around 1985.
In 1980 it moved from Venice to
1350 Third Street
{{cite news|author=Jake Doherty |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1994-02-20-ci-34249-story.html |title=WESTLAKE : Pictures Worth a Thousand Vacuums|publisher=Articles.latimes.com |date=2007-09-03 |access-date=2013-01-28}} (also known as 1350 Santa Monica Mall{{cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1987-08-28-vw-2902-story.html |title=Novelists to Appear at Santa Monica Bookstore Sunday – Los Angeles Times |publisher=Articles.latimes.com |date=1987-08-28 |access-date=2013-01-28}}) in Santa Monica, then in 1992 moved again to 1318 Third Street Promenade.{{cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1994-03-10-we-32161-story.html |title=BRIEFLY : Politics: Speech on N. Ireland Conflict – Los Angeles Times |publisher=Articles.latimes.com |date=1994-03-10 |access-date=2013-01-28}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.citysearch.com/profile/35905197/santa_monica_ca/midnight_special_bookstore.html|title=Midnight Special Bookstore Santa Monica|website=Citysearch}} For more than ten years, the mall's landlord charged the shop less rent than other tenants were paying,{{cite web|url=http://news.bookweb.org/news/customers-rally-around-store-midnight-special-announces-upcoming-move |title=Customers Rally Around the Store as Midnight Special Announces Upcoming Move | Bookselling This Week |publisher=News.bookweb.org |date= |accessdate=2013-01-28}} but with a change in management and success in attracting upscale tenants, the mall operator asked for an increase that would "more than double" the rent. For this reason, the bookstore moved out of its Third Street location in March 2003. Its stock was kept in storage for eight months. In November 2003,{{cite web|url=http://www.surfsantamonica.com/ssm_site/the_lookout/news/News-2003/Nov-2003/11_11_03_Midnight_Special_Opens_New_Chapter.htm |title=Santa_Monica_News_Midnight Special Bookstore Opens New Chapter |publisher=Surfsantamonica.com |date= |accessdate=2013-01-28}}{{cite web|url=http://news.bookweb.org/news/midnight-special-bookstore-close-its-doors |title=Midnight Special Bookstore to Close Its Doors | Bookselling This Week |publisher=News.bookweb.org |date= |accessdate=2013-01-28}} the store reopened at 1450 Second Street{{cite web|url=http://www.msbooks.com/ |title=Midnight Special Bookstore |date=2004-06-29 |accessdate=2013-01-28 |url-status=unfit |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20040629082451/http://www.msbooks.com/ |archivedate=June 29, 2004 }}{{cite web|url=http://travel.yahoo.com/p-travelguide-2975830-midnight_special_bookstore_santa_monica-i |title=Midnight Special Bookstore – Santa Monica, California – Yahoo! Travel |publisher=Travel.yahoo.com |date= |accessdate=2013-01-28}}{{cite web|url=http://local.yahoo.com/info-32070378-midnight-special-book-store-santa-monica |title=Midnight Special Book Store in Santa Monica | Midnight Special Book Store (310) 393-2923 & 1450 2nd St, Santa Monica, CA 90401 | – Yahoo! US Local |publisher=Local.yahoo.com |date= |accessdate=2013-01-28}} in Santa Monica, then finally closed around June 2, 2004. Its owner cited weak sales and continuing financial difficulties as the reason for closing:
{{blockquote|Unfortunately, the delay was too great and our debts grew with the delays. Only local outlets of major chains can afford the losses that come with opening stores; even though our sales were steadily growing, it was not fast enough to keep us going until we could sustain ourselves.}}
Authors who appeared at the shop:
- Cecilia Brainard{{cite news|url=http://www.laobserved.com/archive/2004/05/final_event_at.php|title=Final Event at Midnight Special |publisher=LAObserved |date=2004-11-04 |accessdate=2017-08-18}}
- Octavia Butler
- bell hooks
- Paulo Coelho
- Slavoj Žižek
- Eduardo Galeano
- Viggo Mortensen{{cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2004-mar-03-et-susan3-story.html |title=Little press shines with star power – Los Angeles Times |publisher=Articles.latimes.com |date=2004-03-03 |access-date=2013-01-28}}{{cite web |url=http://chucks888.freeservers.com/vm-sept1.html |title=Viggo Mortensen > Midnight Special Bookstore |publisher=Chucks888.freeservers.com |accessdate=2013-01-28 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080514044240/http://chucks888.freeservers.com/vm-sept1.html |archivedate=2008-05-14 }}
- Dave Eggers
- Elaine Brown
- Lalo Alcaraz
- Walter Mosley
- Trinh Minh-ha
- Edward Said
- Junko Mizuno
- Margaret Randall
- Maya Angelou
- Tariq Ali
- Michael Ventura{{cite web|url=http://www.msbooks.com/goodnight.html |title=Goodnight Midnight |accessdate=2013-01-28 |url-status=unfit |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20040607202142/http://www.msbooks.com/goodnight.html |archivedate=June 7, 2004 }}
- Paul Krassner
- Tavis Smiley{{cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1996-08-17-ca-35091-story.html |title=Tavis Smiley to Sign, Discuss 'Hard Left' – Los Angeles Times |publisher=Articles.latimes.com |date=1996-08-17 |access-date=2013-01-28}}
- consumer advocate David Horowitz{{cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1997-06-30-ca-8333-story.html |title=Horowitz to Discuss Life as a Reporter – Los Angeles Times |publisher=Articles.latimes.com |date=2001-09-27 |access-date=2013-01-28}}
- Bernadette Devlin
Among other people who made appearances at the shop were filmmakers
Robert Greenwald and Oliver Stone, actor David Warshofsky, Elaine Brown of the Black Panther Party, UCLA professor Khaled Abou El Fadl; and musicians Dave Marsh, Jello Biafra, Frank Zappa and Ray Manzarek.{{cite web|url=http://fromthevaultradio.org/home/2011/07/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110708205402/http://fromthevaultradio.org/home/2011/07/|url-status=usurped|archive-date=July 8, 2011|title=From The Vault weblog archives for July, 2011|accessdate=2013-01-28}}
References
{{Reflist}}
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Category:Independent bookstores of the United States
Category:Bookstores established in the 20th century
Category:Bookstores in Los Angeles
Category:Companies based in Santa Monica, California
Category:American companies established in 1970
Category:Retail companies established in 1970
Category:Retail companies disestablished in 2004
Category:1970 establishments in California
Category:2004 disestablishments in California