Competition by the Book: The British Are Coming
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The understated Waterstone established a bookselling concept that caters to the heavy book buyer (defined as one who purchases more, than 20 books a year) and spotlights classics and backlist titles instead of pushing the newest best-sellers to drive up volume. Despite its size, Waterstone’s operates in a highly decentralized fashion, with each store’s staff making the decisions about the books they stock.
Having run out of expansion room on his home turf, Waterstone decided to try his luck in the hyper-competitive U.S. market. “I think our concept was too good to keep on the islands,” he says. “We had certain opportunities in Europe, but we believed our biggest opportunities were here in the U.S.”
Avanzare’s first executive chef, the outspoken Dennis Terczak, who owns the hip Sole Mio restaurant on the north side, maintains Avanzare’s dining room has been taken over in large measure by a less-demanding convention trade. He says, “When you come to the big city from elsewhere in the midwest, Avanzare looks good.” Terczak also says he worries about the restaurant’s failing prey to Lettuce’s corporate culture. “Avanzare had a distinct personality when I left,” he adds. “But I don’t think it has that anymore.”
