Nia-Tayler Clark, the owner of Blacklit in Farmers Branch, Tex., is closing the bookstore due to stalking and harassment, CBS News reported.
Clark, who opened the bookstore two years ago, explained that a man living in the apartment building attached to Blacklit has been stalking her and harassing her customers and employees since January. Fearing for the safety of herself, her son, and those who work and shop at Blacklit, she has decided to close the store and move across the country.
"He is purposely intimidating our employees, our guests," Clark said. "He stands outside and paces our windows. He adjusts his body to make sure we see him and know he's there. He's trapped me behind a register. He would not let me leave."
She added that the behavior seems "alcohol-induced," and while Clark did obtain a restraining order against the man, police have been unable to locate him to serve it.
Clark said the decision to close the bookstore "crushed my heart," but she does hope one day to reopen Blacklit in a new location. "I just keep trying to remind myself this is not a goodbye, it's a see you later. I'm the type of person who likes to finish what I start."
Blacklit debuted as a subscription service in 2019. A former English teacher, Clark launched the service after learning that one of her students didn't read. The bricks-and-mortar store opened in 2022. In early 2023, she raised more than $50,000 through a crowdfunding campaign to ensure the bookstore remained open.