Posted on January 14, 2019 at 3:14 pm by West Sider

Westsider Books, a small bookstore that has survived for 35 years at 2246 Broadway between 80th and 81st Streets, is closing, management announced on the company’s Facebook page on Monday. The store is selling everything for 30% off starting on Tuesday. “Thanks so much to all our loyal customers!” the store said on its website.

David, an employee at the store, confirmed the closing, and said he too had just heard the news from the owner. “It’s a big surprise,” he said. “Though on the other hand I’m not surprised. Everyone’s having trouble, even Barnes & Noble.”

David said he thinks the store will close toward the end of February. He didn’t have more information on what caused the owners to decide to close and the owners were not available to comment.

The store dubs itself “the last used book store on the Upper West Side.” It was featured in a Woody Allen movie a few years ago, as well as Wonderstruck and Can You Ever Forgive Me, according to Emily Belz.

The closure comes at a time when it seemed like things were getting better for local bookstores, with the recent opening of Shakespeare & Co. and other stores.