Books & Mortar in Grand Rapids, Mich., will close permanently next month, WZZM13 reported.
In an announcement posted to Facebook, owner Jenny Kinne wrote that although she still believed in the "mission and work of Books & Mortar," she was "completely burned out." She explained: "For years, I've worked a full-time job while supporting this bookstore and becoming a mom. I am deeply exhausted, and as much as I wish I had the energy to give this place the love and care it needs to thrive, I don’t right now."
The store's last regular day in business will be August 1, with Kinne planning a celebration of the bookstore on August 8. After August 8, some portions of Books & Mortar's online store will still be maintained, and some of the store's book clubs may continue at new venues.
"I know how much this place has meant to so many of you, and I am deeply sorry that I can't keep holding it," Kinne wrote. "My hope is that by letting this chapter end, I make room for new creativity, new gathering spaces, and new possibilities. Maybe Books & Mortar can emerge in another form someday, or maybe new endeavors will open in ways none of us can yet imagine."
Books & Mortar was founded in 2016 by Jonathan Shotwell and Christopher Roe. Kinne bought the bookstore two years later after working there as a bookseller. In 2021, she purchased a building and moved the store across the street, doubling its space.
"Thank you for making this dream real," Kinne continued. "Little Jenny, who dreamed of owning a bookstore, is heartbroken to close this chapter and overflowing with gratitude for everyone who made it possible."