The owner of the Bookery is writing the store’s last chapter.
Russell Floren, owner of the independent bookstore off Signal Hill Road — in what is thought to be the oldest building in St. John’s — put the store up for sale earlier this year, saying the demands of the store left him little time to do anything else. He’d hoped to sell the business but, despite some interest, nothing has materialized, and now Floren says it’s time to close.
“At some point, I had to decide whether I’m going to buy all the Christmas books or not,” he said. “If I buy all the Christmas books I’m committing to be open until at least February, and then it’s like, do I buy all the spring books? And it just keeps going. So at some point I had to actually make a decision one way or the other.”
Earlier this year, Floren said revenue at the store — opened in 2008 — was growing each year, but today said he’s losing money. “It’s getting worse and worse, so I’m just going to pull the plug now.”
The store will be open Friday and Saturday this week, and then Thursday to Saturday next week, selling books at 30 per cent in an attempt to clear out inventory. On Dec. 10, an auction will be held at the Wesley United Church to sell off remaining books and furniture.
dmaceachern@thetelegram.com, Twitter: TelegramDaniel
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