SOUTH MUSKOKA – It’s the final chapter for Readers’ World.
After 31 years in business, the downtown bookstore will close its doors forever next month.
According to owner Libby Charron, the story of Readers’ World is the story of small book stores across Canada.
“It’s sad, but there are hardly any independant book stores left,” said Charron. “Chapters, Amazon, Walmart, e-books… they all eat into the bottom line. Go to Shopper’s Drug Mart, they have new releases at the front door for 30 per cent off. I can’t even buy them for that price.”
The store has actually been on the market for over a year, but Charron said most people are looking at it as a sole source of income, which simply isn’t viable in today’s market.
“It’s a labour of love,” she said. “No one is going to get rich owning a book store.”
Charron has owned the book store for roughly six years, having purchased the business from previous owner Ruth Thompson.
“I knew she had owned it for 25 years and wondered if she was anywhere near retirement or thinking of selling her business,” recalled Charron. “I just happened to come into the book store and ask Ruth. She had actually sold it to a couple… but they backed out, so she phoned me and I ended up buying it.”
Charron said she had previously owned a business and was interested in owning another. An avid reader, Charron said a book store seemed like an ideal fit.
“For whatever reason, I really took to this like a duck to water,” she said. “It was good… and then my personal circumstances changed and I knew then that I wouldn’t stay. When you own a business you are married to it, and I want to explore other things.”
Charron said she knows her choice to close is going to leave some book lovers disappointed, but the decision was not one she took lightly.
“I will certainly miss the people who come through the door,” she said. “Lots of different things get discussed in here. It’s interesting and I’ll miss it.”
Now that Charron will have more free time, she has a somewhat ironic item topping her ‘to do’ list.
“I’ve never read so little since I bought the store. You just don’t have time for it,” she said. “It’s something I absolutely will go back to. I’ve got stacks to read.”