Stately Raven closing

Stately Raven Bookstore on North Main Street is closing this month.

Owner Mike Cole, in an e-mail last night to longtime customers, cited changes in the publishing industry and growing bookseller competition.

The store, located in an old church and known for its eclectic approach such as the "Weird Room" devoted to science fiction and fantasy, has been open since August 2007.  They've been a fun place to browse and were good also at fulfilling special orders -- sometimes I'd go in there with something unusual I wanted and they would always get it in for me promptly if they didn't already have it in stock.

A going-out-of-business sale is in progress through the end of January or until the shelves are bare. Everything is 50 percent off.

Farewell, Stately Raven -- you'll be missed.