The closing of the Polo Park McNally Robinson has sparked many questions about the bookstore chain, book sales in general and even the future of print publishing. This means it may be sink or swim for other bookstores in the city.

Margaret Black, co-owner of Black’s Books and Antiques, said business has slowed in the last three years. She is unsure about their future in the book business.

“We don’t know [about the future]. We’re thinking about whether or not we’ll make it,” said Black. “Business has been better, but we’re paying our bills.”

Used bookstore The Bookshelf closed its doors 10 months ago due to lack of business. Owner Tony Hazzard said the store sold enough to sustain itself but not enough to make a profit.

“It was a business decision, and it’s one I wish I didn’t have to make,” said Hazzard, who still owns the bookstore Cover to Cover.

Not all bookstores are in the same dire situation.

Aqua Books, on Garry Street, extends its services beyond book sales. It also houses Eat! Bistro, under the same ownership, and hosts 200 events per year, many of which are literary functions such as book releases and readings, which the Polo Park McNally Robinson location used to do as well.

Aqua Books owner Kelly Hughes said he’s not pleased about McNally’s downfall. He said he can’t pick up all the events that McNally would host.

“It’s not a good thing for the writers,” said Hughes.

While McNally specialized in new books with a slight lean towards local authors, second-hand bookstores differ slightly in their focus. Philosophy, history and literature are the most in demand genres at both Bison Books and Black’s.

“We get a lot of students [who] come in looking for books in classics because they know they can get them cheaper than [U of W’s] bookstore,” said Black.

McNally’s press release announcing the closure of their Polo Park location cited many factors influencing the close, including the rise of e-books and e-readers such as the Amazon Kindle. Yet smaller bookstores in the city don’t accept the Kindle as a real threat.

Black said a few customers have come in saying they received them but opted instead to buy the print version after struggling to read onscreen text.

“One guy came in and said he received an e-book for Christmas. He came in and bought the same book because he couldn’t handle it.”

Aimee Peake, owner of Bison Books, isn’t threatened by the Kindle because it’s not something that would interest collectors, a large demographic of Bison’s clientele.

“There isn’t the same sensual feel,” said Peake. “Collectors aren’t going to go to [the] Kindle. If anything, it will help because books will be a little less common.”