Iconoclast Books & Gifts, which relocated two years ago from Ketchum to Hailey, Idaho, sent a heartfelt message to the community yesterday saying the bookshop's future is not guaranteed without increased local support.
In a letter "to my valley" posted on Facebook, owner Sarah Hedrick wrote: "I wanted to be your local bookseller until I was that weird doddering old lady giving books to your kids. And their kids. (Oh, I am already one of those to some of you!) But I think it's time to say, 'A Lady always knows when it's time to say goodbye.' (Thank you, Nana & Petrea Mara, and forgive me for the misquote.)
"But we can't go on like this. All of these fb memories keep popping up from two years ago. A time full of so many hopes, ideas, and dreams for re-locating in Hailey--where we all live--to not be dependent on the season and tourists. Erroneously I thought we would kill it as a place for kids' birthday parties, books and all kinds of other gifts, in a town without a bookstore, without tourism entirely driving our business. How could we fail with this many people?... Apparently, I misjudged things.
"We have ended up worse than we were in Ketchum, despite my expenses being significantly less than Ketchum in terms of rent, overhead, employees, etc. I never intended for the 3-year lease, with options, to not be continuous, given all that I invested, but unless I can turn this around with your support, we'll be done. Sorry folks, that's the fact and it breaks my heart. I love bookselling almost as much as I love my 4 kids and I don't want to leave this book world. Any ideas, please forward!"