RiverRun Bookstore in Portsmouth, New Hampshire could close by the end of the year if the owner can’t secure new funding and a new location by the end of the year.
Bookstores around the country are struggling as both adult paperback and hardcover sales have declined 18 percent this year-to-date. In the meantime, the owner has shortened hours to 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. every day of the week.
Owner Tom Holbrook explained online: “for RiverRun to survive we must not only find a new location, but we also need to re-capitalize the store. Much of our trouble started in 2007 when I took a large loan to buy out my business partners, so I am now more than willing to take on new partners, if there is anyone out there foolish enough to be interested. So I am looking for new space and for new investors. Without those two things, it is very possible that RiverRun will close at the end of December. Inquiries and ideas can be emailed to me in confidence at riverrunevents [at] gmail [dot] com.” (Via Shelf Awareness)