November 3, 2017 at 4:22 p.m.
Book lovers upset over loss of local store
Book lovers upset over loss of local store
By Kayla Thomason-
The store is in the midst of a liquidation sale following an announcement Tuesday from Book World Inc. that all 45 of its remaining stores are will be closed.
"The national shift in the retail marketplace towards e-commerce has triggered the loss of vital mall anchor stores and a downward spiral in customer counts at Book World stores, reducing sales to a level that will no longer sustain business operations," company officials said in press release.
The Rhinelander location was Book World's first store, having opened in 1976, and for many Northwoods residents the news of the chain's closure came as a shock.
"I was tremendously surprised and sad," said customer Nancy Wilson, as she perused books Thursday. "I think (the closure) will have a tremendous impact over the years because I think it's been in the perfect location. I think anyone coming downtown likes to stop here to browse and I wish perhaps that we had bought more."
For Wilson, Book World was one of the main draws in the downtown district.
"I know that it is a store that draws me downtown and when I've been concerned about business in the downtown I have thought of Book World as one of the mainstays that I enjoyed coming downtown to visit," she said. "I am going to miss this store."
Another customer, Laura Johnson, was crestfallen when the news broke.
"We were disappointed," she said.
Johnson said her family moved to the area in July and frequented the store to purchase books for their children. Now that Book World will be no more, they will have to find another place to purchase reading material, she said.
"We'll just try to find somewhere else in town where we can buy local," she said.
Johnson also predicts a rough patch for Rhinelander with the new loss to the area.
"I think it just adds fuel to the fire of e-commerce and everybody going to Amazon and things like that," she said. "So I think it's going to be a negative impact to see an empty storefront on main street."
Ashley Briske was also dejected by the news.
"It was upsetting," she said. "My daughter and I come here a lot for books for her."
She mentioned that Brown Street Books is gone too, and now she doesn't know where she'll shop for books.
"We won't be able to shop local in a small-town store anymore, we won't have the small-town feel and always know who your cashiers and everything are," she said, adding that she has always been impressed with Book World's very knowledgeable and helpful staff.
The liquidation sale will continue until all merchandise is sold. Book World has hired the liquidation company Yellen Partners of Northbrook, Ill., to assist with the liquidation and closing process.
Kayla Breese may be reached at kayla@ rivernewsonline.com.
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