Family Books in Los Angeles, Calif., will close its bricks-and-mortar store, the Los Angeles Times reported.
Owner David Jacob Kramer, who opened the store in 2007 with Sammy and Tahli Harkham, made the announcement to customers last Wednesday. He explained that even before the pandemic, the store had already been "operating by the skin of its teeth," but the pandemic shutdowns proved to be too much.
"We didn't have the kind of business that could function for curbside pickup; that's not what we're about," Kramer told the paper. "We're a place to hang out. It was antithetical to our M.O."
The store was known for its eclectic mix of inventory, which included everything from books, zines, vinyl records and cassette tapes to clothing and movies. There was an art gallery and performance space as well, and the bookstore even published some out-of-print books.
"We always wanted it to be kind of a living space, a place for people to get together and share ideas and share the work they made in a way that was accessible to everyone," Kramer said. "Young people can make things and sell their things there."
Kramer noted that he'll keep the store's doors open long enough to sell down the existing inventory, which will be 30% off. And while the physical store will close, Family Books will continue as a publishing imprint and will continue to host pop-up events.