As we revealed last Thursday, Wolfgang Books, one of our favorite Bridge Street spots celebrating new, used and collectible books, will close its doors come March.
The following message was passed along from owner Jason Hafer, announcing the upcoming closing.
I am sorry to say that Wolfgang Books will close when our lease expires at the end of March. After five years, I can no longer maintain the business and am not able to renew the lease. I have enjoyed my time as the owner of Wolfgang Books considerably, and I thank all of you who have supported the store over the past five years.
It is news to no one that our country’s economy is struggling at the moment, and sales at Wolfgang Books have been affected dramatically over the past year or so. In addition, as more and more people move to e-readers we have experienced a classic example of a “chipping away effect.” While a great deal of Wolfgang Books customers remain committed to books as a physical object, not all do, and the margins are too slim to be able to sustain a loss of any of our patrons. This isn’t to say that one way is right or wrong; it is just the unavoidable truth.
While I am thankful for all of our customers and recognize that there are people who do their best to buy their books locally and independently, there just aren’t enough of you to keep the store going. There are surely factors for this — the town itself, foot traffic on Bridge Street, the store’s location — but, as above, the reasons don’t matter as much as the reality caused by them.
I have had the good fortune to work with so many wonderful people in the book business. I feel lucky to have worked with such inspiring colleagues, and I do hope that we can work together in the future. In the meantime, keep on doing your good work.
I do not currently know what lays ahead for me, but I am hopeful for the future. I do regret, though, that it will not be one where I am selling books in Phoenixville. Thank you again for your support over the past five years, and I hope that many great books await you.
All Good Things,
Jason Hafer
Nestled on the top of 26 steps at 237 Bridge Street, we have cherished the cozy shop of Wolfgang Books since its opening years back. If you have yet to snoop around this book-lined space, hurry up! You may also visit Wolfgang Books also online at www.wolfgangbooks.com.
