[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 41 (Monday, March 9, 2009)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E591]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 IN TRIBUTE TO HARRY SCHWARTZ BOOKSHOPS

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. GWEN MOORE

                              of wisconsin

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, March 9, 2009

  Ms. MOORE of Wisconsin. Madam Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to 
Milwaukee's landmark bookstore chain, Harry W. Schwartz Bookshops. 
After 82 years of business and service to the entire Greater Milwaukee 
community, the company will close its doors at the close of business on 
March 31, 2009.
  The chain was founded two years before the Great Depression, in 1927, 
by Harry W. Schwartz, who opened his first shop on Downer Avenue. Mr. 
Schwartz soon became known for the books that he chose to sell. He 
championed then-controversial 20th-century authors such as William 
Faulkner and Ernest Hemingway. His son, David, took over the business 
in 1972 and under the younger Schwartz's leadership the company added 
more stores. New stores were placed in neighborhoods where national 
chains could not build. Books were carefully selected to reflect local 
customer preferences and coffee and other soft items were offered. The 
company began mentoring and assisting other small bookstores including 
the Cultural Connection Bookstore.
  Schwartz unleashed his biggest innovation, readings with big-name 
authors including President Barack Obama, then Senator Obama, with the 
introduction of his book The Audacity of Hope, in 2006. Schwartz 
Bookshops became known for their great author events throughout the 
national book industry. Schwartz Bookshops' parent company, Dickens 
Books Ltd., also began an operation that sells business books, which 
today is a separate division, 800-CEO-Read. Despite the advent of the 
big box booksellers, Schwartz prospered in the 1980s and 1990s. After 
the death of David Schwartz in 2004 his widow, Carol Grossmeyer, took 
over as president and his daughter, Rebecca Schwartz, became chairman 
of the company.
  Booksellers now have competition not only from the national chains, 
but also from online booksellers, digital books, and the economic 
downturn that affect how people both read and purchase books. Although 
the Schwartz brick and mortar Bookshops will close, two of the stores 
will continue operating under new owners. Ms. Grossmeyer and Ms. 
Schwartz will continue to run Dickens Books Ltd and the 800-CEO-Read 
Division which remains profitable.
  Madam Speaker, my district and Greater Milwaukee will experience a 
profound loss with the closing of the Harry W. Schwartz Bookshops; I 
thank them for their immeasurable achievements and salute their legacy.

                          ____________________