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Books, Not Drugs! Encino Residents to Protest Loss of Barnes & Noble and Pending CVS Takeover
Photo via Save Our Encino Barnes & Noble on Facebook
Photo via Save Our Encino Barnes & Noble on Facebook
Barnes & Noble last month announced they're closing two stores in Valley on properties owned by Rick Caruso. While the high-profile developer, who is known for The Grove and The Americana, wants to keep the bookseller in Calabasas, he's ready for the Encino location to be turned into a CVS Pharmacy. For Encino residents, however, the loss of books and the addition of an ubiquitous store is a double hit.
But with drama comes a more tight-knit community. Firstly, a new Facebook group has gained over 2,000 fans. Secondly, there is now a protest planned for Sunday.
"The community is protesting the loss of a literary, cultural and social destination which has fostered a love of reading in their children. The protesters are alarmed that the replacement of CVS Pharmacy will change the character of the Encino Marketplace Center as well as attract an unwanted element due to an over-concentration of liquor licenses in the area. They are dismayed by the apathy towards their community by Caruso Affiliated and the Encino Neighborhood Council," said an e-mailed protest announcement, which noted that there are more than 20 pharmacies within a two and a half mile radius of the Barnes & Nobles location.
The event will take place at the corner of Hayvenhurst Ave and Ventura Blvd. from 10 a.m. to noon on Sunday, October 17th.
For the Record: An earlier version of this post stated that the protest was on Saturday. It is in fact on Sunday, October 17th.
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