A town isn’t a town...

Local bookstores like Classic Lines are essential

Author Neil Gaiman once wrote, “A town isn’t a town without a bookstore.”

It would seem that Dan Iddings took this mantra to heart when he founded Classic Lines, the cozy Squirrel Hill bookstore that was recently named a finalist for bookstore of the year by Publishers Weekly.

Known for its warm and welcoming atmosphere, Classic Lines has deservedly endeared itself to Pittsburghers since opening in 2014. And after the store became a community haven in the wake of the Tree of Life shooting in October, Classic Lines began receiving national recognition as well.

Classic Lines’ success is all the more impressive when its contextualized in a rather grim American book-selling market. After all, bookstores aren’t exactly on the up-andup in the U.S. Since 2007, when the U.S. was home to more than 36,000 bookstores, the number of shops has been steadily declining. There are now a little more than 22,000.

In spite of this, Classic Lines is thriving. 2018 brought the store its best numbers to date, and Mr. Iddings says the business is sustainable moving forward. With the recognition from Publishers Weekly, Mr. Iddings’ shop is likely to attract even more attention.

“Someone once told me not to make my hobby into a business,” Mr. Iddings recently told Post-Gazette report Diana Nelson Jones. “But it’s so much fun.”

Pittsburgh is lucky to have a number of great locally-owned bookstores, offering vital social and cultural services for our communities. Classic Lines stands at the fore of that group. And while the distinction from Publishers Weekly is certainly an honor, it has simply confirmed what Squirrel Hill residents had known all along.