Olsson's Books Closing D.C. Store June 27
by Kevin Howell -- Publishers Weekly, 6/16/2008 2:29:00 PM
After 15 years in business, the Penn Quarter/7th Street location of Olsson's Books & Records in Washington D.C. will close on Friday, June 27. The store sent out an e-mail to its customers Monday announcing the impending closing and a notification that everything in the store is now 50% to 75% off.
“The store was profitable and we would have liked to remain there,” said Olsson’s business manager Kelly McCann. “But the lease expired and the landlord made the decision to go in a different direction. It’s sad because when a bookstore closes, you lose a connection you’ve built with a community over years; when a restaurant closes, you just find another place to eat.”
The 5,700 sq.-ft. bookstore had been in its location before the downtown area and 7th Street began to develop over the last decade. “The rent on 7th Street has gotten very high and the property taxes have also gotten very high,” said McCann.
Visitors to the 2006 BookExpo America might recall that this location was the closest bookstore to the convention center. When it closes, Olsson’s will have one location left in D.C. at Dupont Circle and four more locations “across the river” in Virginia.”
The Penn Quarter/7th Street location currently employs roughly a dozen booksellers. “Half of the employees are part time but those who want to remain with the company are being offered positions in other stores,” said McCann, who noted that the Dupont Circle location is about two miles away and all other locations are near Metroline stops.
“We’re looking around for a new location because it’s such a wonderful neighborhood,” said Alexis Akre, general manager and head buyer for the 36-year-old indie chain. McCann agreed, stating that after the store closes and books are either returned or transferred to other locations, the store will be storing its fixtures. “We’re dedicated booksellers and if the right landlord steps forward with a location with enough foot traffic, we’ll consider it.”
