Kelly Pleskunas , owner of Kelly's Books in Watsonville, Calif., "is fighting to keep her store open after lackluster Christmas sales have made it hard to pay her suppliers" and has asked for community help through a GoFundMe campaign. The Register-Pajaronian reported that shoppers know Pleskunas "creates an atmosphere in which customers are greeted as friends, and canine companions are not only welcome, but can expect dog treats doled out from a box kept behind the counter."
"I don't ever ask for help, but I figure people might be a little surprised if I just closed," she said. "I need some help. I'm determined to keep this little store open."
This isn't the first time she has faced a challenge. In 2016, Pleskunas closed 23-year-old Crossroads Books "after she and seven other businesses were evicted to make way for the Kaiser Permanente complex," the Register-Pajaronian wrote. She reopened seven months later in the Watsonville Square shopping center.
Pleskunas has already raised more than 75% of her $7,500 goal. "I can't thank the donors and the people who continue to support me enough," she said. "It makes me happy to have a bookstore in such a great community."