Scholars bookstore closing
Dwindling sales continue to take a toll on downtown’s bookstores
Another used bookstore on Water St. is closing its doors for good.
Scholars Books is closing at the end of October, says a notice in the window.
Scholars’ owner Paul Dyment wasn’t available for comment, Monday. The store was closed, as it is every Monday.
But the notice in the window says that the new age of reading on digital devices such as smartphones and tablet computers have taken a toll on sales.
It’ s the third used bookstore to close lately on the stretch of Water St. that used to be called Book Alley.
In early June, Dixon’s Book Store closed after 37 years due to dwindling sales. At the end of July, Books N’ Things closed too.
Mark Jokinen Books remains open, but he moved his store in 2010 from Water St. to George St.
That leaves only Thea’s Books & Violins, but owner Bill Barclay has said he plans to close in bit more than a year.
Barclay has run the store for nearly 25 years. But he’s getting ready to close so he can set out on a year-long walk from Peterborough to the Yukon.
He said in June that he’s been planning the walk for as long as he’s owned the store. At 70, he figures he’d better do it while his health holds out.
“I don’t want to close the store, but I don’t have the money to keep it open and go on my walk, too,” Barclay said.
Meanwhile, the former Dixon’s location already has a new store.
Catalina’s on Water is the new store; it’s a large selection of vintage items from Catalina Motta, who owns the bar/hair salon/vintage store around the corner on Hunter St.