I'll bite. Because it's an interesting cultural story, with an intersection of several topics commonly fascinating to HN readers based on past front page action

I'll bite. Because it's an interesting cultural story, with an intersection of several topics commonly fascinating to HN readers based on past front page action: books, bookstores, government conflict, public / private sector policy collision, underdog narrative. Independent bookstores are widely regarded as culturally significant. This story is very, very obviously right up HN's alley. It would be more surprising if it weren't upvoted.