Business & Tech

Empire Books to Close in April

Owner says the poor economy and the increase in e-readers contributed to her decision to shut down the store.

On the heels of , will be shutting its doors at the end of next month. 

"It became painfully evident to me by February of this year that we could not continue," said Paula Ingram, owner of the bookstore at 20879 S. LaGrange Road. "The drop in recipts and the horrendous amount of rent we're being charged here made it painfully obvious we couldn't stay open." 

Empire Books will close at 6 p.m. April 30. Beginning at 4 p.m. April 2, the store will kick off a closing event that will run through the month. Everything in the store will be discounted and for sale, including the furniture, Ingram said.

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A combination of a still-struggling economy and the increase of e-readers like the Nook and Kindle have contributed to decreased business, Ingram said. But she's not sure those are the only reasons in the drop in sales. 

"I don't want to say it is the economy, but i really don't know what it might be," Ingram said. "There's got to be something else. From all of my customers I still have, they love the shop. They think it's great."

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Although she hasn't made any firm plans, Ingram says she is considering opening an online bookstore after Empire shuts its doors. 

"It will continue, but it won't be a storefront," she said. "If we go online, maybe it will be better. I'm optimistic that we can make a go of it online."

Ingram opened the Empire Books in Frankfort in August 2006 in the plaza next to on South LaGrange Road. She opened the shop at its current location in March of 2009.

"I've been doing this all by myself for five years," she said. "I haven't been able to afford to hire any help. ... I've been scraping since Day 1."


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