STOW - Barbara Berry's Bookshop, Route 394 Stow, will continue its online sales, catalogs, eBay, search service and publishing activities, but the shop will be closing, 20 years after it first opened in 1992.
"The economics for a retail brick-and-mortar operation have changed," said Warren Berry, Barbara Berry's Bookshop president. "For the last 20-plus years at the location near Chautauqua, we have done very well. Now, with the current general economy, even the price of gas and the emergence of ebooks and similar technology, the direction of the business of selling books has been altered. And, quite frankly, our ages have changed, too. While we are in good health, I am 80 years old now and Barbara is approaching that milestone. We have no desire to retire completely, but all of these things are factors in the decision."
Berry said that bookstores, in particular used bookstores, are becoming old technology, as are post offices and even libraries.
"Our younger generation, and many older people, are well into the electronic age. Dependence on local retail activity has diminished in favor of 24-hour-a-day electronic marketing. 'Yesterday is over,'" Berry said closing with a quote from GE businessman Jack Welch.
The store will close retail operations on Dec. 31. All credit vouchers will be honored. A final sale and closeout of inventory is scheduled for early June 2013. The Berrys want to thank all of their friends and customers who have kept them busy for 20 enjoyable years. Berry can be contacted at the store by calling 789-5757.