Chloe Eudaly, the bookstore owner who won an upset victory in Portland, Oregon's City Council election on November 8, is closing her store, Reading Frenzy, at least temporarily, Willamette Week reported, because Portland prohibits commissioners from "having an outside job or owning a business."
In a statement, Eudaly said that Reading Frenzy "is going on hiatus," effective January 1. "There is a chance it may reemerge in a new form later this year but that plan has not taken shape enough to share."
Eudaly said, "The truth is [Reading Frenzy] has taken an extraordinary amount of work, along with support from friends and community members to keep it open off and on for the last several years. And I realized that it really cannot stand on its own two feet without me and well, it can't have me anymore."
She added, in part: "Taking an idea and turning it into reality while getting to put my interests, talents, and skills to their best use remains one of the most incredible experiences of my life.
"Without Reading Frenzy I don't know how I would have earned a living without killing my spirit. I may have never been connected to some of the most important people in my life, to the beautiful, amazing, and vital work that made its way to our doorstep, or to the international arts and literary community I've been so lucky to be a small part of. It's also highly unlikely I would have run for City Council and found my next calling and a greater use for those interests, talents, and skills at this point in my life."
Eudaly implied that she is open to offers for the store, writing, "If you have a serious pitch e-mail me, but I'm not looking for random advice. I have a team of trusted advisors and plenty of my own knowledge and experience. I know I'm making the best decision in the short term. I'm open to possibilities in the longterm."
Founded 22 years ago, Reading Frenzy focuses on independent, small press and self-published titles, and is home to Show & Tell Press and Minikin Gallery.
