Queer Haven Books will close its bricks-and-mortar store in Columbia, S.C., later this month and pivot to a mobile model, the Post and Courier reported.
In a message posted on the store's website, store owner Baker Rogers said Queer Haven's last day in business will be June 28. After that, Rogers will operate the business out of a donated van, making pop-up appearances around Columbia.
Rogers attributed the closure to being unable to secure a new lease for the bookstore, alleging they were blackballed by local landlords after pulling out of a lease earlier this year. After Queer Haven outgrew its original home at 1332 Main St., Rogers explained, they had signed a lease for a larger space at 1219 Taylor St. and intended to move this spring.
However, when Rogers learned that an office building across the street would be leasing space to ICE, they felt they could not ask Queer Haven's customers and community members to visit that location and potentially put themselves at risk. Rogers subsequently backed out of that lease and began looking for a new home. They attempted to secure three other locations, with Rogers writing: "I offered each landlord what they asked for, yet all three denied the lease."
The Post and Courier noted that Queer Haven's announcement followed the news that two other queer-owned businesses in Columbia would be closing.
"With everything going on with queer and trans rights, and especially with trans people right now, the fact that we're losing more queer space in this town, we need to be [sounding] a big alarm," Rogers told the Post and Courier. "This is not good. This is scary.... We're not letting them win, but also, we can only do so much without some support." Rogers added that it is not about a lack of interest or need, but a lack of resources.
Rogers founded Queer Haven Books as a pop-up before opening the store at 1332 Main St. in 2024. They plan to reassess opening a new bricks-and-mortar space in January.