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Ack. Another independent bookstore in Los Angeles (and the last in Westwood Village) is closing. The Mystery Bookstore on Broxton Avenue in Westwood Village just sent an email to customers saying the last day will be Jan. 31. "We simply cannot compete with the Amazons of the world and the impact of the economy," the note says. Perhaps ironically, the store is located in the city-run parking structure that is the focus of a debate over leasing to a private company that will raise rates dramatically. Email is after the jump.
Mark's post at LA Biz Observed
LA Observed books page
January 11, 2011Dear Customer,
We have very much enjoyed owning the Mystery Bookstore in Los Angeles.
We've appreciated your patronage, your company, and your support in the time that we've owned the store. Unfortunately, we, too, are going the way of too many independent bookstores. We simply cannot compete with the Amazons of the world and the impact of the economy. We love the bookstore and mysteries and the relationships we've formed with authors, publishers, agents, publicists, and our customers. But, we do have retirement to think about (not in the near future!), and family and, well, all of those things that require money. So, it is with considerable sadness that we announce that The Mystery Bookstore, Los Angeles, will--after many years (and as apparently the last-standing bookstore in Westwood, other than UCLA's student store)--be closing.
Our last day will be January 31, 2011. We plan to have a "goodbye" and "thanks for the memories" party that evening, starting at 6:00. We'd love to have you join us one last time . Meanwhile, we'll be doing the biggest sale in our bookstore's history--many books for $2.00, British and collectibles at 50% off, and new releases at 35% off (which puts us right up there in the company of the big discounters, who, ironically, are one of the reasons that we that cannot continue). We hope you'll come take advantage of this pricing. We have lots of wonderful books, and lots of collectibles.
We will miss the events, the author signings and launches, and the Festival of Books. But, we anticipate that the Mystery Bookstore will continue in a considerably more limited form--with recommendations, collectibles, and eBooks--on the Internet on our current website. We'll keep you posted on that front, and will hope that you will come visit us there. Meanwhile, we hope to see you all at our goodbye.
Kirk Pasich and Pamela Woods
The Mystery Bookstore
1036-C Broxton Avenue
Los Angeles, CA 90024
310/209-0415