I have something else to be shocked by:
Kepler's, the 50-year-old counterculture icon and one of the last independent bookstores on the Peninsula, closed abruptly Wednesday morning, stunning employees, loyal customers and the California bookselling community.
"Kepler's leaves a huge hole in the literary scene in the South Bay -- there's no question," said Hut Landon, executive director of the Northern California Independent Booksellers Association.
Like others familiar with Kepler's, Landon was shocked and perplexed by the sudden news. He noted that other independent bookstores in the area are currently thriving. "It isn't the state of the business," he said.
There had been no outward indications that Kepler's, located on El Camino Real in Menlo Park, was in serious trouble, Landon said. "They were running their business as if all was normal."
Owner Clark Kepler did not return phone calls or respond to other requests for comment. A sign on the door Wednesday morning, signed by Kepler himself, blamed the continued downturn in the local economy that began in 2001. Long-time employees also faulted the building's high rent and increased competition from Borders, Costco and online booksellers as factors in the sudden closure.
"They ran out of money," Assistant Manager Andy Battles explained. The longhaired, goateed employee also cited an overall decline in reading in America, and noted that shoppers had become less adventuresome when searching for new books.
"This is symptomatic of a nationwide trend," Battles said, waving his arms.
Faith Bell, owner of the 70-year-old Bell's Books in Palo Alto, asked: "If Kepler's can't make it, how can anybody?"
There's some talk of the store being rescued and
reopening. I hope so. It's one of my favorite bookstores in the Bay
Area... and now, I have even less desire to drive down to the Peninsula
than I normally do!
