Bell, Book & Candle, Dover, Del., is closing and its final day in business will be July 24, the News Journal reported.
Co-owners Ivo Dominguez and James Welch bought the metaphysical store "just before the Great Recession began in 2008," the newspaper said. The store never recovered, said Dominguez, who added, "Last year, we lost money every single month and that trend has continued this year. Short of winning the lottery, we just can no longer afford to stay open."
The 1,800-square-foot store was founded in 2001. Dominguez and Welch also own the building in which Bell, Book & Candle operates and have put it up for sale.
Besides books, the store sells herbs, essential oils, incense, clothing, statuary, ritual tools, jewelry and curios. The store has been a hub for local practitioners of pagan religions, including Wiccans, hosting Tarot, rune and astrology readings, as well as consultations and mentoring sessions for spiritual and magic work, the paper said.
"On an average day, we provide lots of services to customers interested in essential herbs and crystals, but they don't buy anything. Customers say they feel welcome at our store and enjoy the good energy, but good energy doesn't keep the bills paid." He added that the store can't compete with "the brute force of organizations like Amazon, which can sell items for less than we buy them wholesale."
