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About The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current | View Entire Issue (Dec. 8, 1998)
Power Books Local bookstore fights for livelihood against large corporate chain stores By Jeff Randall Staff writer The story has been told a thou sand times: the mom-and-pop store run out of business by the monolithic corporate business that just moved JLI11VJ IUW1J. If Jim McKee and Linda Hillegass have their way, though, that story won’t be told in Lincoln. McKee and Hillegass are co owners of Lee Booksellers, a locally owned chain of book stores that has been in business 1 0"70 But that 19-year run in the retail book business is now in jeopardy, particularly following the opening of Lincoln's second Barnes & Noble Booksellers at 27th Street and Pine Lake Road. “It's too early to tell how badly we'll be hit by their new store," Hillegass said. "But we're probably going to be hit. “And it’s not going to be good.” When McKee and Hillegass, a married couple, opened their first stores in East Park Plaza (at 66th and O streets) and Edgewood (at 56th Street and Highway 2), they were operating just a pair of Lincoln’s owned book shops. They met with success, and in 1990 they opened a third store on Cotner and A streets. But about four years ago, Barnes & Noble made its initial move into Lincoln, and that move was accom n o n i a rl Ki > t h a r ^ J closing of shop doors throughout Lincoln. Now, McKee and Hillegass own the last three locally owned new-book stores in Lincoln. “We're part of a dying breed,” McKee said. And that breed is dying quickly. According to the American It s too early to tell how badly we’ll be hit by (Barnes & Noble’s) new store. It’s not going to be good.” -Linda Hillegass Lee Booksellers co-owner Dawn Dietrich/DN Shoppers enter the new Barnes & Nobles Booksellers, located at 27th Street and Pine Lake Road, Sunday after noon. The store opened Nov. 18. Booksellers Association, roughly 50 percent of independent bookstores have closed their doors in the last five years. And the ABA predicts that another 50 percent will close in the next five years. Online shopping and the growth of chain stores share the blame for this decline in mom-and-pop busi nesses, which has affected retailers in nearly every conceivable realm - from clothing to records to grocery stores. And the efforts to combat the problem have made less than a notable dent. When the first Barnes & Noble opened in Lincoln, Lee Booksellers “did everything we could think of," McKee said. “We launched a huge advertising campaign. We poured thousands of dollars into promotion. “And nobody noticed.” Sales at Lee Booksellers dropped off by about 25 percent. And they’ve never recovered. But despite the severe impact of big-name competition, McKee and Hillegass have soldiered on. They’ve added service, both in store and through mail order. They’ve attempted to stir shoppers' sentiments for the local underdog. And, to some extent.-they've been successful. “A lot of customers tell me that they stay with us because we are local, and because they like our friendliness,” Hillegass said. Whether those customers will stay with the opening of another Barnes & Noble remains to be seen. “It's too early to tell,” she said. “After Christmas, we'll have a better idea. “We’re approaching the make-or break time of year.” And after the dust from the holi day season and the construction of South Pointe Pavilions has settled, McKee said, the damage that Lee Booksellers suffers will truly be mea surable. “For now, (the new Barnes & Noble) is sort of just out there in a plowed field,” McKee said. “Once the rest of the shopping center opens, we'll be able to see just how hard it’s going to be.” Until then, Lee Booksellers will keep competing, selling and trying to come up with ways to keep their loyal customers loyal. “We've just entered a tough time,” McKee said, “a time of big-box busi nesses. “We're not going to whine about it; we’re not going to give up. We’re just going to keep trying.” Delights, duds part of this year’s music scene ■ Swing makes a return; artists rush to record before the century ends. By Sean McCarthy Staff writer Led by Master P's phalanx army at No Limit Records, rap and hip-hop officially dominated the charts in 1998. Many big-name artists scurried to make their last music statements before the 20th century ran out. Snoop Dogg, Shery l Crow, Garbage, Pearl Jam, Smashing Pumpkins, Dave Matthews Band, Method Man and Tori Amos were just some or the hordes of new releases out this year. Ska and tech no took a back seat to swing. And the ultimate swinger, Frank Sinatra, went to that eternal jam session in the sky. Public Enemy made a confident return with the excellent, “He Got Game” sound track, and, love her or hate her, Courtney Love returned to the rock world with Hole’s album, “Celebrity Skin.” Meanwhile, heavy metal made a comeback, and Madonna got spiritu al, releasing an album moral people could actually listen to with "Ray of Light." And while 1998 unfortunately answered the “What the hell hap pened to Vanilla Ice'7" question (he released a “KORNy” album called “Hard to Swallow”), it provided some damn good music. 10 CDs that mattered in 1998 10. Mark Lanegan - “Scraps at Midnight” (Sub Pop Records). Musicians from great bands who release solo projects tend to lack the focus of their group works. But Screaming Trees bellower Mark Lanegan released a morose, brooding and absorbing album that was the ultimate after-hours soundtrack. 9. Mercy Rule - “The Flat Black Chronicles” (Caulfield Records). out last year, but this year was the first time Nebraskans could sample Mercy Rule's stab at the big leagues. Helped by pro ducer Lou Giordano (Sugar), “Flat Black” was filled with pop smarts, rich BH arrangements and great lyrics. Heidi Ore's voice never sounded as full as it does on this album. 8. Pearl Jam - “Yield” (Epic Records). Pearl Jam changed man\ things to get it back in the sales league of bands such as Matchbox 2C this year. Members reluctantly agreed to tour in some Ticketmaster-spon sored arenas. The band released a video. Eddie Vedder dropped his tor tured-artist act in favor of a more humble, accessible persona. And, best of all, it released its most consistent album since “Ten.” The result? The album barely went platinum. Five million fans' loss is one million fans' gain. 7. Lauryn Hill - “The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill” (Ruffhouse Records). Possibly the densest album of the year. Produced, written and performed by Lauryn Hill, “Miseducation” was a declara tion of independence from the soulful member of the Fugees. Even after a dozen or so listens, Hill's album has much to offer in ways of new surprises. Part Bob Marley, part throwback to legends such as Aretha Franklin and all '90s mentality, this album topped critics and sales charts for the summer. No other album was as deserving this year. 6. PJ Harvey - “Is This Desire?” (Island Records). PJ Harvey has stretched her musical ambitions for every album she releases to cover everything in the vast expanse between American blues and European techno. So it's no surprise that her fifth album found her in somewhat familiar territory. Somewhere smack in the middle of the lush, operatic “To Bring You My Love” and the Brillo-like abrasive ness of “Rid of Me,” “Is This Desire?” may have sounded a tad too familiar to fans, but it still rocked. 5. Sheryl Crow - “The Globe Sessions” (A&M Records). Every music lover has one or two guilty pleasure selections they listen to when their friends are not around. Motley Crue, Hanson, Iron Maiden - tor me it s bheryi Lrow. as mucn as 1 didn’t want to like “The Globe Sessions,” Crow released a great, well-crafted album about longing for isolation. Add in her soulful, hurt voice, mix in a killer cover of a Bob Dylan out take, and “The Globe Sessions” turns out to be the biggest surprise of the year. 4. “Miles From Our Flome” Cowboy Junkies (Geffen). Eternal mopers Cowboy Junkies have kept a low profile since 1988 with their “The Trinity Sessions” release. But this beautiful requiem for close friend/artist Townes Van Zandt proved the band is capable of doing more than killer Lou Reed covers. 3. Massive Attack - “Mezzanine" (Virgin Records). Just when people were about to write off these Bristol pioneers of the silly-named genre, trip-hop, they surface with a great album. While Portishead and Tricky have released higher-profile releases, “Mezzanine” was dark and arresting enough to put them back in the fore front of the trance-enduing genre. Adding Elizabeth Fraser of the Cocteau Twins to the lineup certainly didn’t hurt. 2. Liz Phair -“Whitechocolatespaceegg” (Matador). Like a marathon episode of “South Park,” shock value has less of a half life than the gallon of milk in your refrigerator. Wisely shunning an attempt to out-shock her 1993 classic, “Exile in Guyville,” “Whitechocolatespaceegg” instead stunned listeners -with Phair’s wide range of musical influences. Straight-up pop a la r\ _ Cr c quirky, folksy arrangements and lusty rockers dec _ orated Phair’s lat est album. And with an honest, direct account on the horrors and joys of growing up and marriage, “Whitechocolatespaceegg” was well worth the 41/2-year wait. Please see MUSIC on 8