Today Is Bibliohead Bookstore's Last Day In Hayes Valley

Today Is Bibliohead Bookstore's Last Day In Hayes ValleyPhoto: Jared Schwartz/Hoodline
Rose Garrett
Published on September 19, 2014
As previously feared,  Bibliohead Bookstore at 334 Gough Street is closing up shop, and today is the store's last official day in business at its Hayes Valley location. 

After 10 years on Gough, owner Melissa Richmond is vacating the space due to a pending soft story earthquake retrofit and rent hike that would effectively double what she's been paying for the space. According to Melissa, though her bookselling business is profitable—no small feat—and she's always paid rent on time,  the building's landlord (Pearl Investment Company) wants to install a high-end boutique in the space. 

Although she has one potential space in mind for a new outpost of the bookstore, Melissa is still unsure where the business will end up, and it most likely won't be in Hayes Valley. 

Bibliohead's recent Indiegogo campaign raised only $7,323 of the $60,000 it sought to assist in moving, storage and future rent costs, but there is one more way you can help out: this weekend, Bibliohead will be holding a "packing party", and volunteers are invited to stop by the store between 11am and 7pm on Saturday and Sunday to help pack up inventory (bring tape guns and hand trucks if you've got 'em).

Despite the setback, Melissa is determined to keep her financially viable business afloat. The real danger, she says, is that people have become accustomed to the idea that bookstores are dying away.  "We want to combat that notion," she told us. "Bookstores are more viable than they have been in a long time, especially used bookstores in a good location, and we hope to come back stronger than ever."

The store is open today from 11am to 9pm, so stop by, pick up some books for 25 percent off,  and say 'see you later' (but hopefully not 'goodbye') to Melissa and her crew.