BuyIndie: Candida's World of Books
As part of an occasional series, BuyIndie.net's Vince Wadhwani profiles an independent, local business owner in D.C.
Other than coffee shops, perhaps no independent retailer faces as much pressure as your local book store. Opportunities abound to buy from aggressively growing chains or any of several online merchants. Some voices, like Tyler Cowen, wonder if that really matters at all, while others ask what may happen to the culture of reading when libraries and small book stores lose their financial legs.
To stay afloat, independent bookshops are employing a variety of techniques from serving pie and joe to live performances. One outfit in D.C. approached the rising competition from a different angle: Candida's World of Books sells books that help residents stay in touch with the world outside the U.S., and not just by offering Footprint or Lonely Planet guides.
"I discovered that there wasn't a bookstore in D.C. with an international focus," explained owner Candida Mannozzi. "That really surprised me given the number of people fluent in other languages, or from other countries who live here and would want access to books in their own language. So we carry a lot of books that other stores might not, like foreign language texts or imported books."
The array of offerings Candida has put together are impressive, including Sunday readings for children, travel writing — even language immersion courses. The store, while not large by chain bookstore standards, offers an ample place for the topic at hand. In the time we spent perusing the aisles we found books ranging from fictional accounts of life in Bombay to detailed non-fiction retrospectives of returned Peace Corps volunteers.
As with many successful independent stores, dedication is a key ingredient. Her web site states, "This is a business with a human face. The person behind the endeavor ensures personal attention, quality and service." For Candida herself that means 12 hour days, 6 days a week. "Before this I spent a lot of time overseas, but I mostly travel vicariously through my customers now."
Because of its narrow focus, Candida's has become a bit of a destination spot for residents of the greater Washington community with international interests. But with a location along the popular 14th Street corridor, there are plenty of other reasons to check out the scene from theaters and restaurants to furniture stores and clothing outlets. If you have a knack for foreign languages or have just been meaning to journey past your local playground, Candida's World of Books has a wealth of inspiration to help you take that first step.
Candida's World of Books is located at 1541 14th Street NW, on the corner of 14th and Q Streets. Hours are 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday and 12 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Sunday. You can find an extended version of Vince's interview with Candida on BuyIndie. Photo by Rob Goodspeed.