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Trover Bookstore to Close

July 8th, 2009 by Claudia Holwill · 5 Comments · Capitol Hill South

troverThe Washington Post and DCist are both reporting that the Trover Shop Bookstore on Pennsylvania Avenue SE will close next month after more than 50 years of business on Capitol Hill.  Damage to the card shop from the Capitol Lounge fire, “current economic climate and the changes in our industry” have left them no other “viable option.” They expect to close their doors for good in mid-August.

Trover was first located on the 100 block of Independence Avenue, SE, before moving to the location right next to Capitol Lounge, and expanding to their second location a few doors up the street.  The store was packed this afternoon with shoppers, many of whom were quick to share their disappointment at seeing a favorite Hill institution close its doors.  As one customer pointed out, he could always find the best, and most obscure books on the store’s shelves.

Why can’t Capitol Hill sustain a (new) bookstore?

current economic climate and the changes in our industry

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  • http://NotionsCapital.com Mike Licht

    Another reason to visit Admiral Jim’s Capitol Hill Books (on C Street, across from Eastern Market).

  • http://brunchandthecity.wordpress.com/ Claudia Holwill

    Capitol Hill Books is great but it’s a used book store. When you want something that is new to the shelves, you need a place like Trover. It was great to have both on the Hill and I hope someone will open a new bookstore to fill the void being left by Trover.

  • Margaret

    Independent bookstores are dropping like flies because they can’t compete with Amazon or discounters. The independents have to charge cover price, while Amazon’s price is usually 35% to 45% off cover. That’s less than the independents pay at wholesale + shipping. Current bestsellers are discounted at the big chains.
    Trover was the best for instant gratification – when you needed it NOW, without leaving the Hill.
    They will be sorely missed, but somebody would be crazy to open an independent bookstore.

  • sharon

    I almost always had to order a book from Trovers, and some of the staff were indifferent to service, at best. No reason not to shop at Amazon, and pay less.

  • http://twitter.com/nicholeaileen Nichole

    While I would love to see something like a Politics & Prose, a Kramerbooks, or even an Olsson’s (RIP) go in on the Hill, as much as I hate to admit it, I truly wouldn’t mind a Borders or Barnes & Noble. (I feel guilty just typing that!) But, much like Sharon, Trover never had what I was looking for, and like Margaret said – it was pricey compared to Amazon. There just wasn’t any upside, outside of supporting a local business – but just b/c it’s local and independent doesn’t necessarily mean it should be supported, especially when it’s not actually meeting a need.