Waldenbooks Luggage Tag
2.4'' × 4''
$16.99
Sale price
$16.99
Regular price
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Carry a little bookstore history wherever your travels lead with this Waldenbooks luggage tag. The name recalls a company that began as a three-cent-per-day rental library in Bridgeport during the Great Depression, grew into a nationwide bookstore presence, and became part of the familiar shopping mall experience. It is a thoughtful choice for readers, collectors, former mall shoppers, and anyone drawn to the story of American retail and changing book culture.
Walden Book Company began on March 4, 1933, when Lawrence Hoyt, a former Simon & Schuster sales manager, and Melvin T. Kafka opened a rental library inside a department store in Bridgeport, Connecticut. Named after Henry David Thoreau’s Walden, the business rented books for three cents per day during the Great Depression. By 1948, it had 250 rental locations. Lawrence Hoyt opened the first Walden bookstore in Pittsburgh in 1962, as affordable paperbacks helped shift the company from rentals to retail selling. Broadway Hale Stores acquired the company in 1969 and later became Carter Hawley Hale. During the 1970s, Walden Books gradually became Waldenbooks. Kmart acquired Waldenbooks in 1984. The company expanded into software, educational toys, larger book formats, and related brands, acquired U.S. Coles Book Stores locations in 1987, and operated Basset Book Shop stores before they became Borders locations. In 1994, Kmart combined Waldenbooks, Brentano’s, and Borders into the Borders-Walden Group. Many stores became Borders Express locations beginning in 2004. Borders Group entered liquidation in 2011, closing the remaining Waldenbooks stores.
Waldenbooks Luggage Tag
$16.99
Sale price
$16.99
Regular price
| 2.4'' × 4'' | |
|---|---|
| Width, in | 2.40 |
| Height, in | 4.00 |
| Depth, in | 0.20 |
Carry a little bookstore history wherever your travels lead with this Waldenbooks luggage tag. The name recalls a company that began as a three-cent-per-day rental library in Bridgeport during the Great Depression, grew into a nationwide bookstore presence, and became part of the familiar shopping mall experience. It is a thoughtful choice for readers, collectors, former mall shoppers, and anyone drawn to the story of American retail and changing book culture.
Walden Book Company began on March 4, 1933, when Lawrence Hoyt, a former Simon & Schuster sales manager, and Melvin T. Kafka opened a rental library inside a department store in Bridgeport, Connecticut. Named after Henry David Thoreau’s Walden, the business rented books for three cents per day during the Great Depression. By 1948, it had 250 rental locations. Lawrence Hoyt opened the first Walden bookstore in Pittsburgh in 1962, as affordable paperbacks helped shift the company from rentals to retail selling. Broadway Hale Stores acquired the company in 1969 and later became Carter Hawley Hale. During the 1970s, Walden Books gradually became Waldenbooks. Kmart acquired Waldenbooks in 1984. The company expanded into software, educational toys, larger book formats, and related brands, acquired U.S. Coles Book Stores locations in 1987, and operated Basset Book Shop stores before they became Borders locations. In 1994, Kmart combined Waldenbooks, Brentano’s, and Borders into the Borders-Walden Group. Many stores became Borders Express locations beginning in 2004. Borders Group entered liquidation in 2011, closing the remaining Waldenbooks stores.
| 2.4'' × 4'' | |
| Width, in | 2.40 |
| Height, in | 4.00 |
| Depth, in | 0.20 |
Product features
- Durable 100% acrylic body with glossy printed front
- Adjustable black leather strap with buckle
- One-side high-definition print in vibrant colors
- Rear opening pocket for business card or contact info
- Compact size 2.4” × 4” (6 × 10 cm)
Care instructions
- Wipe with a damp cloth, air dry or use a soft, non-abrasive cloth
EU representative: HONSON VENTURES LIMITED, gpsr@honsonventures.com, 3, Gnaftis House flat 102, Limassol, Mesa Geitonia, 4003, CY
Product information: Generic brand, 2 year warranty in EU and Northern Ireland as per Directive 1999/44/EC
Care instructions: Wipe with a damp cloth, air dry or use a soft, non-abrasive cloth