Distant Lands, the travel bookshop in Pasadena, Calif., that has been in business since 1989, closed its bricks-and-mortar store on December 28 in order to focus on online sales, the Los Angeles Times reported.
Ian Kalvinskas, son of store owner Adrian Kalvinskas, told the Times that "a mixture of things" was ultimately responsible for the physical location's closure. In addition to competition from online retailers and rising rents, Kalvinskas pointed to the effect that the 9/11 attacks had on American attitudes toward international travel. He added: "We've always said that our best day as a store was September 10, 2001."
Going forward, Distant Lands will continue to sell travel books, maps, luggage, clothing and more through its website, and the store's in-house travel agent Susan Hickman will continue to offer her services online.