Oakland bookstore to close after more than 2 decades

"“When you're putting more money in than you're taking out, you need to really evaluate whether it's viable,” she said. Business had been slowing since last July, Caldwell said, but its prospects really soured in January, when it became apparent that revenue was “significantly down” from the previous year. Montclair Village has been slower than usual, she said, and several stores have shuttered in recent months."

"“People aren't shopping, and if they're not shopping, we can't justify being open,” Caldwell said. A Great Good Place for Books is the sort of neighborhood shop that locals visit again and again, year after year. The store's name is a reference to a book called “The Great Good Place,” a study of third places by the sociologist Ray Oldenburg."

"Caldwell, who has owned A Great Good Place for two decades, described running the store as “one of the joys of my life.” Kazuo Ishiguro, the British author of “The Remains of the Day,” has visited the store for an event, as has former Warriors player (and memoirist) Andre Iguodala. In 2005, while Caldwell was working as the store's event planner, the original owner, Debi Echlin, added her to her will."

"Later that year, Echlin died unexpectedly, and Caldwell took the reins. “This has been the best thing that ever happened to me,” Caldwell said. “It was everything I never knew I wanted.” Caldwell isn't sure of her future plans."

A Great Good Place for Books in Oakland’s Montclair Village is winding down after more than two decades. The owner, Kathleen Caldwell, said the store is not financially viable because it has been putting in more money than it takes in. Business slowed starting last July, and prospects worsened in January when revenue was significantly down from the prior year. Montclair Village has been slower than usual, and other stores have closed. Caldwell said people are not shopping, making it impossible to justify staying open. The shop has served as a neighborhood gathering place for reading groups and author events, and its name references a study of third places. Caldwell took over after the original owner added her to a will and later died unexpectedly.

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