LAist: But She Is In Her Grave, And Oh! The Difference To Me...

billnoe

Wed, 07 Sep 2005 21:59:28 -0800

We'd like to hope that if one of our beloved LA independent bookstores - Dutton's, Book Soup, Vroman's, and Children's Book World - was so threatened, that our city and citizens would step up to raise money to save it, rather than letting it go. Well we let Midnight Special go, so certainly the prospects would not be good for the others if they were imperiled.

Dara Weinberg

Sat, 03 Sep 2005 12:07:18 -0800

New updates on this story: check out www.savekeplers.com for more info. Rick Opaterny is collecting all the blog quotes and press info there. After everyone, including the NY Times, took notice, a rally is being held (organized by city council member Kelly Ferguson), the owners of the property are meeting with Clark, and apparently some investors have come through to help save the store. Good news all round! Hooray! Keep your fingers crossed...Everyone who's in the Bay Area should try to be there for the rally on Tues, Sept. 6 at 5 pm. Outside of Keplers.

Dara

Fri, 02 Sep 2005 12:08:10 -0800

You're absolutely right, Jessica - it seems like no one, including those on staff, had any clue what was about to happen... It is Clark's decision, after all, whether to go on fighting the good fight or not. I just wish, as you do, that he would have given everyone a chance to help. i can easily imagine that there would have been community support for a fundraising drive or whatever was needed. anyway, it's a sad day for bookselling.

jessica

Fri, 02 Sep 2005 09:12:26 -0800

I wish there were something we could have done about this. Though the owner had previously enlisted some help from the city in negotiating a lower rent with his landlord (and was unsuccessful), this closure came as a surprise and shock to the entire community, including employees. Business seemed steady, and Clark Kepler didn't share the news of his dire financial troubles until the day he closed the doors, tearfully informed and dismissed his staff, and filed for bankrupcy. The community is dumbfounded and powerless as it is now too late to do anything. Could you protect your LA indies? Not if you don't know they're in trouble. Do your best to keep a close watch on them, before it's too late.

stan

Thu, 01 Sep 2005 21:10:22 -0800

kepler's is/was my favorite bookstore ever. sad to see it go.