After 40 years, the Book Rack, a used bookstore in Arcadia, is closing its doors. Thursday will be its final day open.
Current owner Karen Kropp told KNX News’ Margaret Carrero that owning The Book Rack for the last 20 years was “heaven.” She added that while things had been slowing down before the pandemic, it only got worse after.
Then in July, she became very sick with COVID.
“I had to pay somebody to keep the store open even part-time, and that's expensive. Very expensive,” she said. “ And I wasn't paying myself so it became, ‘oh, ok. This is why everybody says it's time.’ So yeah, it didn't pay the bills anymore.”
Joanne Rosso, who worked with Kropp on Saturdays, said she’ll miss the camaraderie from the people who would come into the store.
“I don't want to say they've become family but they become friends,” she said. “And their families and their children come in, and their children come in, and their children come in So you see two or three generations coming in at a time and that's really, really nice.”
Although Rosso said she’s sad to see the store go, she’s also happy for Kropp and said she deserves to take some time off.
Kropp said once the store closes, she’ll be making her way to Albuquerque, New Mexico where she’ll move in with her sister.
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