Even using my own business with four stores producing remarkable and growing volumes of business, operating in high visibility locations for various periods between 2 1/2 to 15 years as examples;

We have already alienated enough customers to supply a good customer base for a startup store – and they are never going to come through the doors of any of our existing establishments again under any circumstances – so they are lost forever.

And the people who love us absolutely adore us and appreciate everything we stand for and everything we are doing to expand and grow into our vision of the future of the books business. It will take an extremely special group of individuals working at the utmost of their capacity to comfort and not alienate that customer base.

So my advice would be to work in the store in question with the previous owner to gain some semblance of acceptance, then operate it yourself for six months or so while establishing a much improved store in a high visibility location – send the existing customers to the new location so you don’t lose as many of them as you otherwise will – and then dream your biggest dream and work your butt off for the rest of your life to make your dream come true.

Don’t settle – ever!