Now that Borders is gone, is there hope for new bookstores in Los Angeles?

We all know that independent bookstores were killed off by the Borders and Barnes & Nobles that have themselves been killed by Amazon.com.

So now that the bricks-and-mortar retail field is clear, do you think that somebody (or -bodies) will decide to fill the obvious gap in the market and start opening real bookstores again?

We've already got a few indies that have managed to hang on. I'd love to see more of them. And not just general-interest (though those would be welcome), but also specialty stores that can carve out a niche for themselves.

I miss bookstores. Maybe you do, too.

Stores I like:

• Bargain Books on Friar Street in Van Nuys
  
• Portrait of a Bookstore on Tujunga Avenue in Studio City

How about a list of stores YOU like?

I've probably forgotten a dozen bookstores that linger in the San Fernando Valley and beyond. Refresh my memory, if you will. What's still out there?

Send the names and locations of your favorite, still-open bookstores to me, steven.rosenberg@dailynews.com, and I'll drop the names here. Then we can discuss.