A popular bookstore in Mesquite, Texas, is set to close its doors for good. Half Price Books, known for selling books among other items, will shut down its Dallas location after 30 years. The closure, scheduled for May 5, comes as the store has seen fewer customers in recent years.
Mesquite Bookstore Closes After Decades
The Half Price Books store at 1645 N. Town East Boulevard in the Market East Shopping Center is closing. Since its opening in 1994, the store has been a staple in Mesquite.
"We've been in Mesquite since 1994 and have great customers in the area," Emily Bruce, a spokesperson for Half Price Books, told local ABC affiliate WFAA. However, she added, "But due to a decline in customer traffic, we decided to close at the end of our lease."
Since the closure of The Book Co. in 2021, this location has been the only bookstore serving the Mesquite community.
Half Price Books operates around 120 locations across 19 states, with about 40 in Texas. The stores offer diverse products, including books, textbooks, music, and movies.
The company's humble beginnings date back to 1972 when founders Pat Anderson and Ken Gjemre started selling used books in a Dallas laundromat.
Over the years, their unique approach to business has been encapsulated in their slogan: "We buy and sell everything ever printed or recorded (except yesterday's newspaper)," a statement proudly featured on their website.
"We hope to see our customers at our other DFW locations, including our nearby stores in Rockwall and Garland," said Bruce.
Half Price Books remains dedicated to circulating and contributing positively to the world. The company's leadership and staff are actively working to maintain its leading position in the industry.
They constantly improve in-store and online shopping experiences, collaborate with literacy initiatives, and support charity organizations across the country. Additionally, implementing environmentally friendly practices in their stores and corporate offices continues to honor the founders' legacy.
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Iconic Tribeca Bookstore Closes Its Doors
Another bookstore has recently closed in New York City. The beloved Barnes & Noble in Tribeca shut down on January 14 after 16 years of serving the community. The closure came as the landlord decided to redevelop the property.
The bookstore announced its closure through an Instagram post on December 29, 2023, expressing regret and a commitment to finding a new location in the neighborhood. "We've loved being a part of this neighborhood and are doing everything we can to find a new location," the post stated.
The post also highlighted alternative Barnes & Noble locations for customers to visit, including their Union Square store at 33 East 17th Street and the Atlantic Avenue store in Brooklyn.
Furthermore, the bookstore expressed hope to reopen in Tribeca when a suitable new spot is located.
The Instagram update thanked booksellers, store managers, and customers, reflecting on the positive memories made with events, author meet-and-greets, and contributions to the Tribeca community.
This closure is part of a broader trend across the country, where the number of bookstores has declined. This decline has been attributed to the rise of digital reading.
According to Publishers Weekly, bookstore sales have significantly decreased from $16.8 billion in 2007 to $9.12 billion in 2019, a 45% drop. The pandemic further impacted sales, which dropped to $6.5 billion in 2020, while the total number of bookstores decreased by about 40% from nearly 10,000 to 6,045 in 2019.
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