I just received an email from The Next Chapter, our only local independent bookstore in Woodland. The owners are giving up the fight and looking to sell. If a buyer can't be found they'll be liquidating and shutting down. I've copied the email below. Bless their hearts, in their farewell email they mentioned the new release of volume 3 of The Crow.
The Next Chapter is my favorite bookstore. The staff is great. They bend over backwards to help their customers, just like they've bent over backwards to help Crow. For Jenny and I, it was our favorite place in town for a cup of tea and a long talk. The thought of that building sitting there empty breaks my heart.
And do the ramifications of one bookstore have an impact on the community at large? Consider this. Just last night, I was sitting at the computer going over the books for the Crow. I sat in my chair with my head in my hands, wondering just how long I can keep paying for this thing out of pocket. What shall we do if our best selling book store goes down? Can we survive sales losses of 40%? No. There may be two small business closing in the near future.
We've been over this before but I'll ask you again, my friends, where do you buy your books?
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Hello and Hi,
I have some major bad news about the store and news on an upcoming sale and some other news and events.Before the rumor mill begins, we would like to announce to everyone how we've decided to proceed with our business. All of our last three years have ended in losses, although each year was less of a loss than the last. We've cut costs as much as possible and borrowed funds to keep us open but we're at the end of the road, financially and emotionally. So, the Next Chapter is for sale ... but if we are not successful in selling the business, before we're completely out of funds, we will liquidate and start another life. In spite of all the money worries, it's been twenty good years for us ... and we know that other folks have felt equally passionate enough about our community bookstore to invest money and time to help keep us alive. The stark fact is that we simply don't have enough customers to pay the bills ... and we're looking at not being able to take care of ourselves if we don't change course. So, if you know of anyone crazy and rich enough to want to own a bookstore/coffeehouse in a great community, let them know about the opportunity. And we'll keep you posted but please don't wait for the grand finale to stop in to say good-bye ... in fact, we are having a 20% OFF sale starting Thursday and going through Saturday to raise enough to, temporarily, stave off the wolf. This is an opportune time to save some money and to help out.
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That's 20% OFF all BOOKS and GIFTS (coffeehouse fare not included) on THURSDAY-FRIDAY-SATURDAY (April 20-21-22)
April 23, Sunday @ 2 pm
Here's another reminder that we will be hosting Woodland author Mal’n Alegr’a who will discuss, sign, and read from her first novel, one for young adults, Estrella's Quinceanera. Please come and support a local writer, and get yourself a signed copy.The Spring 2006 edition of Yolo County's Literary Magazine, Yolo Crow (volume 3) is now available in the store.
Tickets are now on sale for the Woodland Reads Author Luncheon. This year the author is Woodland-raised Jennifer Traig with her fine book Devil in the Details. Tickets are $15 per person for the 12:30pm luncheon that will take place on May 10. Check out the website for other Woodland Reads events.
Please try and make it to our sale and the store events. Thanks for your support and for reading. - John
The Next Chapter
Woodland's Independent Bookstore
622 Main Street, Woodland, CA 95695
(530) 668-4620
http://members.aol.com/nextchap
(want off our mailing list ... just hit reply & tell me)
You can always help the bookstore
just by passing this message on to another reader ... Thanks.