Books on Main in Hopkinsville, Ky., will close permanently at the end of next week, the Kentucky New Era reported. The decision comes after owners Pam and Wayne Goolsby, both retired school librarians, have been unable to reopen the store since closing down because of the pandemic in March.
Pam Goolsby explained to KNE that she and her husband both got new jobs, and while her mother used to work at the store regularly, she is 85 years old and at risk. The store is hosting a going out of business sale, which will run this weekend and next weekend.
The owners opened the store in September 2005. At the time they were indeed located on Main Street and were in partnership with a coffee shop. They remained in partnership until 2013, when the bookstore moved to a new location off of Main Street after their landlord decided to go in a different direction with the property. They decided to keep the name because of the loyal following they'd built.
"We enjoyed delivering and getting to know the people," Wayne Goolsby said. Over the years, he continued, they made "so many great friends who have been good customers to us."