Buffalo Street Books has long been integral to the bookish culture of Ithaca as one of its beloved independent bookstores — but now, it is grappling with mounting financial struggles that threaten its future. Back in Oct. 2024, the bookstore faced financial challenges and potential closure due to uncharacteristically low sales. However, this is not the bookstore's first period of financial turmoil since its founding in 1991.
Financial struggles in 2011 motivated the change from a private to cooperative business model meaning that the community buys shares of the bookstore and thus shares benefits and decision-making powers. This was an incredibly risky move especially considering the changing climate surrounding brick and mortar bookstores and digital bookselling. But Buffalo Street Books succeeded with the cooperative model and is now one of the only cooperatively owned bookstores in the country. A cooperative model offered short-term stability, but the community has succeeded again and again with fundraising to keep the bookstore alive.
During the most recent crisis last October, Buffalo Street Books reached out to the community hoping to raise $100,000. As of this article's publishing they have raised a total of $72,499 towards this goal. This was an incredibly ambitious goal, but Ithaca's immense support has proved that the community is more than willing to preserve the culture of independent bookstores.
Just like the popular slogan, “Ithaca is Gorges,” signs across Ithaca proclaim “Ithaca is Books,” underscoring the depth to which books are woven into the lifeblood of the town. While online booksellers like Amazon encourage numb consumerist behavior, Ithaca's continued drive to save Buffalo Street Books shows that many still wish to uphold the craft of bookselling and experience of reading.
Lisa Swayze, the general manager of Buffalo Street Books, said in an article for the Ithaca Times, “I know how much it [Buffalo Street Books] means to people, I know that what we are offering makes people really happy, fills a niche, provides incredible comfort, brings the community together, so many things. I can’t imagine that the community is going to be willing to let that go.” Just like books are never just books, Buffalo Street Books is not just a store, it is a safe haven. Books often offer a place of belonging for those who do not feel included or represented and bookstores should be an extension of this comfort. Buffalo Street books stands up for the LGBTQ+ community and is committed to racial justice and inclusivity through their book selection and programming events. Through this they have created a safe space for the community through physical books. The store is also a place to gather, to talk about books and receive expert recommendations from staff. There really is nothing like the magic of an independent bookstore.
Threats to independent and brick and mortar bookstores across the U.S. are nothing new. Many bookstores are struggling to compete against online retailers as people lose sight of what it really means to read. Reading is not something to simply check off on book review apps like Goodreads, it is about the experience and letting the words teach you or touch your soul. Reading is about discovery and exploration, something independent bookstores like Buffalo Street Books cultivate. The continual support from the community shows that this is not lost on people in Ithaca. It is horrible that independent bookstores should face these repeated threats, but I find the community's dedication to keeping these stores open to be illuminating. Readers are some of the strongest people there are — and they are willing to fight for the places they love.
You can support Buffalo Street Books’ fundraising efforts here and help keep our incredible independent bookstores thriving!
Ayla Kruse Lawson is a sophomore in the College of Human Ecology. She can be reached at akruselawson@cornellsun.com.
