06/21/2025
Dear AOM friends, family, supporters, and customers,
I wish I could explain to you how much I appreciated every single one of you over the past year and a half. This has been the most incredible thing that I've ever done in my life (aside from being a mom). I expected to be here until I was a little old lady rocking in a chair reading books to kids.
Sadly, this will not be the case. Our beloved store will close its doors on July 12, 2025.
I've tried bookclubs, poetry nights, improv, space rentals, summer camps, music nights, author events, carnivals, special sales, different book genres, gifts, vintage books, free activities, contests, and everything I could think of. I've proposed partnering with other struggling stores and have talked to various organizations about partnerships. I've tried to become the book supplier for schools and libraries in our area. I've tried to be the supplier for school book fairs. I've advertised in print, on fliers, on social media, and on posters.
We've added online sales for audio books, ebooks, and physical books. We needed to bring about $5000 a month to pay all the staff, pay the bills, and replenish stock. Since January, that has not happened even one month. I've made up the difference either by falling behind on bills or, when possible, using our family money to pay store bills. I still have many bills to pay to even be "caught up," not including the tens of thousands of dollars I put into opening the store.
My family is collapsing, both because of the store and for other reasons I can't even explain.
Closing is my only option, and even this isn't going to stop what's happening to my family.
Logistics:
- If you have placed an order for a book that's already released, it will still be fulfilled and must be picked up by July 12th once we notify you that it's in.
- If you placed a pre-order for a future release and have NOT paid for it, the order will be canceled.
- If you placed a paid pre-order for a future release and have already paid, your order will be canceled and money refunded.
- If you signed up for a Summer Camp, we will process all refunds the week of July 13th.
- Gift Certificates will be honored until July 12th. No new gift cards will be sold.
I am so sorry that I could not find a way to make this work. I love you all!
