The Toronto Women’s Bookstore, a feminist institution in the city for the past 39 years, is closing its doors for good.

Victoria Moreno, who has run the Harbord Street store for the past two and a half years, announced it would close on Nov. 30.

“I’m closing the bookstore with the bittersweet knowledge that I did my best. I gave everything I had — physically, emotionally, and financially,” Moreno announced in a Facebook posting that quickly drew dozens of sorrowful comments from women and men alike.

Author and retired Toronto Star columnist Michele Landsberg called the bookstore “a priceless resource in Toronto.”

“It’s quite a heartbreaker that it’s finally closing,” said Landsberg, a life-long feminist and social activist, recalling it as “a very fresh and lovely bookstore on Harbord St.” which operated for many years as a women’s collective.

Lisa Whittington-Hill, publisher of alternative journal, This Magazine, added her voice to those mourning the bookstore’s closing.

“I’ve shopped at the bookstore for 12 years ever since I moved to Toronto. It’s always sad to see bookstores close, especially independent retailers. We’ve seen so many independent bookstores closing in Toronto and across Canada,” Whittington-Hill said.

“As a feminist institution, it’s certainly sad to see it closing from that perspective as well. It was more than a bookstore or a magazine store. It was a space (for women) and I know they really tried to have events and stuff there,” Whittington-Hill said.

“Now that it’s gone, what else is there in Toronto that fills that need?”

Landsberg, who divides her time between Toronto and New York City, said the closing of the Toronto Women’s Bookstore is part of a broader trend.

“The independents have vanished there (New York City) too. It’s universal. It’s terrible to see them go because they bring something unique, they are completely different from the big chain stores,” Landsberg said.

“It means a lot to writers to have that kind of outlet where they call it ‘hand-selling’ a book, a book that the owner of the bookstore has read and loved and will tell other people about. You can’t replace that,” Landsberg said.

“For a women’s bookstore to exist and highlight women writers, it’s just changed the conversation basically and profoundly. It was a wonderful boost to women authors everywhere and to all of our awareness and knowledge. I feel very sad that the Women’s Bookstore, which was really a sparkling community hub for many years, is vanishing.”

Moreno cited a “radically” changing book market in recent years for the bookstore’s closing.

“Ebooks, fierce online competition and a stagnant economy have all contributed to our business model becoming no longer sustainable,” Moreno said.

“It’s just too difficult for the smaller stores to offer the same kind of discounts and deals that the big chains can offer,” Landsberg agreed.

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As the Nov. 30 approaches, Moreno said she faces substantial closing costs and must sell the store’s remaining stock, including patio equipment.

“I personally don’t like to ask for help but if people are coming in, that would be an awesome thing.”