Lark & Owl Booksellers, which "has been a mainstay in the bustling Austin [Tex.] suburb of Georgetown for nearly seven years," has been saved from closure thanks to a community fundraising effort, MySA reported, adding: "For Georgetown, a city where a love for literature rings true and book clubs have been keeping strong and meeting for decades, Lark & Owl has served as a gathering space, refuge and reprieve for customers. Now, the business is calling upon its patrons to aid its efforts to remain open."
On March 3, the bookstore shared an Instagram post outlining a number of financial setbacks during the past two years that had forced the bookseller into "survival mode." Central Texans have responded by donating more than $47,000 to a Givebutter crowdfunder thus far toward the $50,000 goal.
"When you're a business that is fighting to survive, you don't have any wiggle room for one thing to happen," said co-founder and general manager Jane Estes. "We are scrappy and creative, and we're problem solvers, and we've gotten this far and we have things in the works for plans to grow and to do more and to serve the community better. But you can't grow if you're in survival mode all the time."
Estes stressed the vitality of an inclusive community space for the community to gather, mingle and expand their love of reading, as well as to see themselves reflected back, regardless of their age, background, or life experience.
"It's community, it's also grassroots, in every sense of that word. Independent bookstores have a long line of history and politics over the years as well, but mainly, we all serve our communities, and that's a privilege and an honor to be able to do that. People want books," she added
Lark & Owl is also seeking individuals or organizations with potential financial offerings, including longer-term loans, to aid them in navigating the current economic and financial tides, MySA noted.
Estes added that now is the time to support places that build people up instead of tear them down: "That's all we ask for, is to just--the chance to have community and conversation here in this bookstore and we're so fortunate that we do every day."