On Sept. 15, the only bookstore in town, Book World, closed permanently. This store is one of the many stores in Albert Lea that has closed.

      Junior Katie Boettcher has worked at the public library for three years. She said Albert Lea does not have a bookstore, she said it results in better business for the library.

      Noah Iverson, junior, agrees with Boettcher about how it is unfortunate we do not have a bookstore.

      “I used to buy a lot of books there,” Iverson said. “I also think the community would like it if there was a bookstore.”

      Both Iverson and Boettcher agreed having a variety of stores in the malls would improve the popularity rate in both Skyline and Northbridge Mall. The town has many stores that attract different people, but it seems like there are not enough that motivate students at Albert Lea High School to go to them.

      A problem for junior Brianna Shea, is empty space and lack of stores.

      “I would like to have a Barnes and Noble or some kind of bookstore,” Shea said. “Or maybe a Family Video. Even though we have our library and Redbox’s, I think those would be fun to have in town.”

     Boettcher would appreciate a Target and a coffee shop added to town. Something new, Boettcher said. Whether it is a music store or a crafts store, any type of variation would attract a different crowd to each place.

      Iverson believes that a crafts store would be helpful, especially if you had to make a project for something like 4H or school.

      Without a bookstore, and the want for new releases, Boettcher said it’s difficult shopping for new books in town.

      “I hate it,” Boettcher said. “Sometimes I like to go to bookstores to look through new releases. Wal-Mart does not have everything I want, so how am I supposed to find what I am looking for without ordering it online?”

      Traveling can definitely be difficult obstacle to overcome; paying for gas, combined with not knowing what stores will have what exactly, makes it a gamble.  Boettcher and Iverson agree going out of town for shopping can be a hassle while Shea thinks it is fun to travel to other towns, but it would be more convenient to be able to shop in town.

      “I would rather have to shop in town,” Boettcher said. “There is a familiarity and convenience in having any store in your own town.”

      Simply Charming Ceramics, a pottery place in the Skyline Plaza (1657 W Main Street), is exactly what Boettcher is looking for when she explains an “improvement to our community”.

      “If we had more things like that,” Boettcher said. “It would be such an improvement to our community. More people would go to stores, attend different things. It would bring our community together somewhat more.”