Hawseys Book Index, the Pensacola, Fla., new and used bookstore founded in 1968, is closing permanently. In an announcement to customers, owners (and sisters) Dinah Tronu and Lana Creary said the "bittersweet" decision came because they are retiring and "beginning a new chapter of our own stories.... We will miss each and every one of you."
They encouraged customers "to come see us. Come visit us. Come find some new adventures. Come find the treasures inside these walls. Come take it all in. Come smell the books. Come and buy all the books you have been waiting to read. Come start your Christmas shopping. Come and tell us your favorite memories of our shop." All shelves, furniture, and art are for sale. "You can even buy the business (we would love that)!"
According to the Pensacola News Journal, the sisters have no firm closing date in mind, and plan to sell as much inventory as possible in the holiday season, then "re-evaluate their situation in a month or two."
Hawseys Book Index was founded by Tronu and Creary's parents, Alice and Wade Hawsey, as a retailer of furniture, jewelry, appliances, used books and other products. Over time, the store focused more and more on books, and added new books in 1980. Not long after that, the sisters took over the store from their parents.
"We never could find an exit strategy," Tronu told the News Journal. "We would say, 'Let's talk about it.' We are sisters, and we have differences of opinion. Basically the bottom line was, Lana just said that in her heart, she's ready. And this is kind of what papa did. He said, 'Girls, I retired twice, I just want to travel. I'm going to shoot around the Gulf, come home and read a book. Y'all do this as long as you want to.' "
"We are so blessed to have been able to do this for our customers, because we love them," Creary said.
"It's been a lot of fun," Tronu added. "It really has been a joy for us. Interacting with so many wonderful people and their children and their families."