The Dolphin Bookshop, Port Washington, N.Y., will close at the end of the month after 76 years in business. Newsday reported that Judith Mitzner, who has owned the Long Island bookstore for nearly a decade, made the announcement on Monday via social media, adding that the bookshop "has been a staple" in the town since 1946 "and has cycled through three locations, four owners and several expansions as it tried to keep up with the times."
Mitzner cited diminishing sales and an increase in rent as primary influences on her decision to not renew her lease. The Covid-19 pandemic escalated the situation. "Over the [past] year, we haven’t seen the kind of traffic that we need in order to make it work," she said. "This was a love project... but it's asking for too much."
On Monday, the Dolphin Bookshop "saw a steady flow of customers, many expressing disappointment about the pending closure," Newsday wrote. Local resident Eric Schulmiller praised the bookseller for giving local authors exposure. He said the closure will leave a big hole in the community and urged residents to shop local: "It's always good to shop local, especially if it's with a place that cultivates a relationship with their community."
Mitzner is uncertain what she will do next, saying: "It's going to be hard to replace something that you do because you love to do it."