Keep a Unique, Local Indie Bookstore in Our Community
The Issue
Hello and thank you for a moment of your time today!
We designed an independent bookshop where visitors and locals delight in many things; finding their next great read while supporting creators at a greater level than giant booksellers, contributing to their local economy, participating in activities to enrich their community, all within a unique setting that feels right at home in the ViBe Creative District of Virginia Beach.
Your positive response to our vision was and is so inspiring, especially during these challenging times (for everyone). Every smile, every exciting book discovery, every local artist supported, every connection, every delightful book club meeting, or engaging community collaboration speaks volumes about your resiliency, hope, strength, bookish love and kindness.
We know we took a unique path by housing the store in a Vintage Airstream and have attempted to understand and follow our city’s guidelines. We did learn (soon AFTER opening) that we would only have a temporary opportunity to establish our business as it was designed. So we spent the last 9 months attempting to find an appropriate brick and mortar location, while establishing the business, during a pandemic, and great social upheaval in our country... You get the picture.
On November 8 we were officially notified that our structure does not meet the “Building Type” design specifications of “Shopping Frontage” in the “Oceanfront Zone” and that we must remove our store by (ironically) Thanksgiving weekend 2020. We may be granted a temporary reprieve but it will give us a month or two extra at most.
Our immediate reaction was sadness, not anger. We know that we are a part of something special that connects us with you, our community, in a way that is heartfelt and good!
We do not know if we can stay, as 2020 has left us with a lot less fight and resources. The timing is brutal to a small business trying to establish itself during a pandemic. The appeals process is expensive and bookselling is far from lucrative.
We are simply asking that if you support our vision, our current aesthetic in your community (or the community in which you love to vacation), independent bookshops and/or small family owned businesses, please sign this petition.
Gauging community support will help us make decisions moving forward and, know if we have something as special as we believe it to be.
And as always, we wish you peace, love and great reading!
The Issue
Hello and thank you for a moment of your time today!
We designed an independent bookshop where visitors and locals delight in many things; finding their next great read while supporting creators at a greater level than giant booksellers, contributing to their local economy, participating in activities to enrich their community, all within a unique setting that feels right at home in the ViBe Creative District of Virginia Beach.
Your positive response to our vision was and is so inspiring, especially during these challenging times (for everyone). Every smile, every exciting book discovery, every local artist supported, every connection, every delightful book club meeting, or engaging community collaboration speaks volumes about your resiliency, hope, strength, bookish love and kindness.
We know we took a unique path by housing the store in a Vintage Airstream and have attempted to understand and follow our city’s guidelines. We did learn (soon AFTER opening) that we would only have a temporary opportunity to establish our business as it was designed. So we spent the last 9 months attempting to find an appropriate brick and mortar location, while establishing the business, during a pandemic, and great social upheaval in our country... You get the picture.
On November 8 we were officially notified that our structure does not meet the “Building Type” design specifications of “Shopping Frontage” in the “Oceanfront Zone” and that we must remove our store by (ironically) Thanksgiving weekend 2020. We may be granted a temporary reprieve but it will give us a month or two extra at most.
Our immediate reaction was sadness, not anger. We know that we are a part of something special that connects us with you, our community, in a way that is heartfelt and good!
We do not know if we can stay, as 2020 has left us with a lot less fight and resources. The timing is brutal to a small business trying to establish itself during a pandemic. The appeals process is expensive and bookselling is far from lucrative.
We are simply asking that if you support our vision, our current aesthetic in your community (or the community in which you love to vacation), independent bookshops and/or small family owned businesses, please sign this petition.
Gauging community support will help us make decisions moving forward and, know if we have something as special as we believe it to be.
And as always, we wish you peace, love and great reading!
The Decision Makers
Petition Updates
Share this petition
Petition created on November 10, 2020