LUCKNOW: Shelves that were once fragrant with fresh ink on paper, reeked of moisture and stared blankly into empty space that earlier housed stacks of books. After an almost 71-year tryst with Lucknow's bibliophiles, Ram Advani Booksellers shut shop here in Hazratganj on Sunday.An iconic journey that lost its sheen after the death of its 95-year-old owner Ram Advani on March 9, finally sealed the vacuum the connoisseur of books and Lucknow left behind. A memorial service remembering the grand old man of the city was conducted by his daughter Radhika with a close group of friends on Sunday evening to announce the family's decision to bring the curtains down. “After his passing away , there was just nobody who could run the place as he would, to maintain its identity of more than just a bookstore. He was a specialist bookseller whose shoes no one could fit into,“ said Radhika, who is based in the UK. “My brother Rukun and I are both based away from the city and we did not want such a big name to suffer,“ she said, adding, “We also plan to sell his house.“ Advani's death, there were massive dis counts extended on all books, some of which were exclusive to Lucknow. A month back, the remaining books were let out by his children and donated to different libraries, organisations and individuals.Attending the memorial service, historian Ravi Bhatt said, “Not just a shop, it was an intellectual hub. No other bookstore can ever replace it and it is sad that both Ram and his bookstore are now gone forever.“During the ceremony , it was suggested that a social media page be set up in the memory of the iconic bookseller whose name was not just synonymous to books but also to Lucknow and that members meet up at least once a year to relive his memories. “He was a referral point for all things Lucknow, a specialist whose personal dealing with each customer based on the visitors' choices cannot be replicated,“ said Roop Rekha Verma , former VC of LU. “He represented books...Jahan kitabein ka naam aata wahin un ka bhi zikr hota tha (whenever someone speaks about books, his name is bound to be mentioned),“ she added.