Wild Lark Books, Lubbock, Tex., which opened in 2021, will close July 1, though owner Brianne van Reene plans to keep the online bookshop operational into the future.
Van Reene explained her decision in a Facebook post Monday, noting: "Most importantly, I want everyone to know that the bookshop has not been a failure--it is not closing because it cannot sustain itself. In fact, for a business of only 18 months, it's quite incredible that it's profitable. And that is all thanks to our amazing Readers! The story-loving community in Lubbock is STRONG and only getting stronger."
Citing the the financial strain she still carries from what was required to open Wild Lark Books, van Reene wrote: "Everything I have is in the bookshop and I took that chance with eyes open because I believe in Lubbock and this community--and I hoped for that faith to be returned. For the last year and a half, I have been turned down by every bank, every organization, every attempt to try to remedy the situation--and believe me, I have tried so so many and have had others try on my behalf (for whom I am eternally grateful)... but alas."
She also noted that she would be willing to sell the bookshop turn-key or accept a buy-in partnership, but "a bookshop is a lifestyle business, as it should be--and thus, likely the closing of the bookshop chapter."
Van Reene told the Avalanche-Journal: "Essentially, I can no longer personally sustain the high interest debt I incurred in getting the bookshop open. I'll have a sale through the end of next week, and then I'll see what the stock inventory looks like after that as far as liquidation." She added that the publishing side of Wild Lark would continue.