Ink & Page Book Boutique in Overland Park, Kan., will close this summer. Owner Erin Oliva had originally opened the Pretty Posy Boutique, a specialty clothing shop, in 2021 before relaunching the business as a bookstore in 2024.
In a social media post announcing her decision not to renew the bookshop's lease, Oliva wrote: "After 5 years of owning a storefront in Downtown OP (first a boutique, then Ink & Page), I've decided not to renew my lease. Renewing would mean committing to another 5 years, and that forced some real soul-searching about what I want my life to look like and who I want to be most present for.
"I love so much about this shop. I'm proud of what I've built and of this growing community. The timing is incredibly bittersweet with the new farmer's market pavilion almost finished. We have made it through 18 months of construction and there are so many great things right around the corner. That makes this decision really hard.
"But owning a storefront is all-consuming. It can be joyful and fun, but it is also relentless. Every decision and every responsibility sits with me. From keeping the shop staffed and stocked to making sure the bills are paid to shoveling snow and cleaning up after the toilet over flows. And over time, it's taken more than I want to give. Especially time from my family.
"So even though the business is growing, I'm choosing to step away from the storefront. This is about being a more present wife and mom. I want my kids to be my #1 priority."
Ink & Page will be open as usual until July, buying and selling used books, restocking new titles, and fulfilling all preorders through June. Oliva noted that she may keep up the website after the storefront closes, but hasn't made a final decision yet.
"But for now, we're here and I'd love to see you," she wrote. "There are still plenty of books to chat about before we close these doors."