Edison Bookstore Opening in Livorno's old Teatro Lazzeri

Teatro Lazzeri during restoration earlier this year27 Nov 08 When the Edison Bookstore - an Italian chain - opens in Livorno next week, there will no doubt be mixed feelings. On the one hand, it will be making good use of the lovely old Lazzeri Theatre, abandoned for many years and now back in good shape after months of renovation work. On the other, the new shop will be stiff competition for Livorno's long-established local bookshops like Belforte (already forced to reduce its shop space and see an electronic game shop open next door), and Gaia Scienza, among others.

It reminds me of that film, You've Got Mail, with Tom Hanks, the big chainstore owner, and Meg Ryan, the independent bookshop proprietress. In the film, the little shop has to close, but love conquers all. In real life, let's hope that Livorno's popular independent bookshops can survive.

Edison Bookstore, in Via Buontalenti, will be inaugurated on Saturday 6th December at 5pm. It will be open 7 days a week from 9am to midnight.