Cohen Brothers The Big Store Now Available

[jenio]

Also available from Chamblin's Uptown and Chamblin Bookmine October 16th!

[ronchamblin]

Just a note.  We received the books, "Cohen Brothers: The Big Store" today. 

We are selling at $15.95.

The Roosevelt Store is open till six today. 

The Laura Street Store is closed on Mondays, and will be open tomorrow, Tuesday, from 8 to 5.

Anybody can use their trade-in book credit to pay for the books if desired. 

Ron c.

[Timkin]

Just curious... When can the pre-ordered ones  be expected to be received?

[ronchamblin]

Upon reviewing the book briefly this evening, and beginning its reading, I'm impressed at the depth of it.  It's much more than a book with photos.  If this is the quality to be expected from E. Davis in future book projects on local history, those of us who read and enjoy history will eagerly enhance our shelves with each new title.

Although we have enough copies for now, my plan in the morning is to order more from the publisher, in expectation of greater demand.

[thelakelander]

Just curious... When can the pre-ordered ones  be expected to be received?

This week.  The books came in today.

[Ralph W]

I had an office in the store in the early 80's - plus, All the keys to the building.

[thelakelander]

Upon reviewing the book briefly this evening, and beginning its reading, I'm impressed at the depth of it.  It's much more than a book with photos.  If this is the quality to be expected from E. Davis in future book projects on local history, those of us who read and enjoy history will eagerly enhance our shelves with each new title.

Thanks Ron.  With any book I produce, you can expect a certain level of detail that will far exceed what you'll find in most local documents featuring a lot of photos.  While the architect in me, believes a photo speaks 1,000 words (so expect a lot of them), the urban planner and historian in me likes to provide you with the raw honest truth behind how we got to where we are today.

Like Reclaiming Jacksonville, Cohen's also details long lost stories from residents and significant events of yesteryear, while also highlighting the rise and fall of downtown as a department store retail epicenter.  I also wanted to personalize it by including accounts of residents sharing their memories of the vibrant downtown scene of decades past.  In addition, once you get through it, you'll discover we've been at this downtown redevelopment thing for a long time and the ideas expressed today are nothing new.  You'll also see why I don't believe having a DIA, DDA, JEDC or whatever, automatically equals revitalization success.  In the end, you're getting a lot of elements of Jacksonville's urban history rolled up into one book with a ton of rarely seen images to help visualize the text.  I hope everyone enjoys reading it as much as Sarah and I enjoyed researching and writing it.

[Wacca Pilatka]

I just got my copy and am enjoying it very much - as expected, of course, but I really like how it branches out into the history of mall development and the life cycles of the other downtown stores.  The personal stories are a treat too.  Really looking forward to more of your books.

[thelakelander]

Thanks!

[Wacca Pilatka]

Just got to the part in the book about the opening of Sears, where it mentions the mural in the Ribault Room.  I dimly recall having read an article in the 90s that indicated the mural had survived Sears' demolition and was found rolled up someplace, and would be put on public display.  Does anyone know if that's accurate and, if so, where the mural can be seen today?  Thanks.

[thelakelander]

The mural has been restored and is displayed on the 4th floor of the main library.

[Wacca Pilatka]

Thanks!  I will have to go see it on my next trip.

[urbanlibertarian]

Wow!  Great!  The Cohen Brothers, Joel and Ethan!  I love their movies!  Is The Big Store a sequel to The Big Lebowski?