Robinson Crusoe Bookstore Moves From Hand to Hand

After facing closure due to rent hikes in downtown Istanbul, Robinson Crusoe Bookstore moved to the forth floor of Salt Beyoğlu, a non-profit institution. 

While the bookstore moved yesterday, a group of volunteers helped the owners by carrying each book parcel from hand to hand. 

Active in business for 20 years, the bookstore reportedly paid 25,000 liras [roughly 9,000 euros] per month. The fee was later on augmented to 35,000 liras. 

Previously, the bookstore owners introduced Robkart - a failed attempt to attract readers to pay in advance in the form of a fidelity card. 

Certain authorities interpreted the latest closure as an evidence that small businesses can no longer function against mega-brands in downtown Istanbul. 

In August 2013, Librairie de Péra, a 93-year-old bookstore in Galata and the first auction place in Turkey, was also closed as it was unable to afford the rent. 

The remaining bookstores on Istiklal Avenue are listed as follows: Mephisto, YKY, İnsan, D&R, Ada, Pandora, Kırmızı Kedi and Türk-Alman Kitabevi. 

The reminiscences of closed bookstores are: Galata, Tünel, Dünya, İmren, Sel, Simurg, Metropol, Sinem, Arkadaş, Literatür, İstavrit. (NV/MEV/BM)

* Click here to read the article in Turkish.