PGHIMC - Pittsburgh Independent Media Center

Radical infoshop makes a Big Idea a reality
by Andy Mulkerin Sunday, Sep. 01, 2002 at 1:12 PM

The Big Idea is a young and growing radical infoshop in Pittsburgh.

Despite lacking a storefront of its own, and operating on a voluntary basis, The Big Idea is growing bigger. The young radical infoshop, which currently operates out of the Mr. Roboto Project in Wilkinsburg, is quickly becoming a staple of the Pittsburgh activist scene while sticking to its voluntary-collective roots.
The Big Idea was conceived late in the spring of 2001 as the brainchild of local activists who had visited other such radical bookstores in other cities. It began with a series of meetings over the summer, during which the framework for the shop was set.
Of the approximately 20 active members of the collective, 13 are trained to work the Big Idea table, which appears at activist events as individual members see fit. “It’s a loosely-organized collective. The members choose when they want to set up, whenever they see fit,” explained Eileen Nall, a member of the collective. Much of the tabling takes place at the Roboto venue; the collective also set up shop recently at the People’s Army’s presentation of “How to Plan A Mass Action.”
Collective members refer to the shop as an infoshop rather than a bookstore because the selection is varied. Collective member Deanna Hitchcock estimates that the Big Idea currently has about 70 titles on its shelf, and has carried about 150 different titles in the past. But the shop also carries records, which have accounted for a great deal of sales thus far, and assorted homemade crafts.
In keeping with the anarchist nature of the shop, there is no set procedure as to what will and will not be ordered; instead, members take the initiative to make the purchases.
The Big Idea is operating out of the Mr. Roboto Project until they have about $2500 in their coffers, according to collective member Justin Cummings, at which point they hope to open a storefront. Collective members plan to keep the store a not-for-profit voluntary collective, and base its open hours around the members’ availability.
In addition to the money made from book and record sales, the Big Idea is the beneficiary of a local music compilation, “Go Down Fighting, Come Up Smiling,” put together largely by bands that frequent the Roboto Project. There were 700 of the CD’s, which cost $5, produced. The CD had broken even financially and the Big Idea is beginning now to benefit. The CD can be purchased from the Big Idea or at Brave New World in Oakland.
“We’re a radical infoshop,” explains Hitchcock authoritatively. “That’s the basis of our decisions.” And what appeals to the ideals of the Big Idea collective seems also to generate interest in the activist community.

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