Books by the Sea, Centerville, Mass., closed on April 8. On Facebook earlier, owner Tom Phillips posted: "After 19 years in several locations, we'll be permanently closing.... EVERYTHING is for sale--shelving, tables, posters, decorative items, office items, and of course books.... Come on by and say goodbye--and give Emily one more belly rub!"
The bookstore moved to Centerville from Osterville Village in 2017. At the time, Phillips had said the new location would "give readers a more convenient way to drop in, get advice and recommendations from our well-read and trained staff, learn about new books from both beloved and emerging authors, and find just the right book for their needs." In 2020, Books by the Sea was the victim of a textbook buying scam that put the business under a severe financial strain and threatened its survival.