West Hollywood, California (January 14, 2010) - The Bodhi Tree Bookstore will close at the end of 2010, say founders and operators, to make way for sale of the property to a real estate landlord. 
Photo by WeHo News. |
The announcement comes on the heels of the loss of A Different Light Bookstore, another WeHo icon for decades.
The world renowned book shop, which specializes in spiritual and metaphysical works, has enjoyed tremendous popularity and acclaim during its 40 year history.
Owners Phil Thompson and Stan Madson told LA Times that they had considered selling over the past eight months to a landlord who owns other retail establishments along Melrose.
What they found was that the book market had so greatly changed that a small brick and mortar store can no longer compete.
They tell the Times that after the first 20 years, things looked like they would expand exponentially.
Photo by WeHo News. |
He said, “Publishing was expanding. Spirituality was expanding. But what changed was that the market became widely dispersed."
The Melrose/Robertson area the Bodhi Tree inhabits has seen property values skyrocket in the past decade, complicating business plans.
Messrs Madson and Thompson realized that the price they would get from the sale far outweighed any profit from continuing to sell books there.
The pair left aerospace for the more contemplative pursuit of dusting books in 1970; they set out to feature spirituality of all kinds.
One former employee, Gary Lachman said, “I worked at the Bodhi Tree from 1987 to 1993, and before that was a customer for years, especially of the used book branch; much of my library originated there.
“It certainly is sad news to hear of its passing. As a writer of alternative philosophy myself, I know how difficult it is to make a living in this area.
Bodhi Tree in 1970. Photo by WeHo News. |
“I've lived in London since 1996, but whenever I was back in LA, I always made the trip to the shop.”
John Duran, West Hollywood city council member, expressed a deep sense of loss over the affair.
"It is a tragedy to lose the Bodhi Tree which is part of the soul of West Hollywood. With the continuing shortage of commercial space and resulting rise in commercial rents - coupled with the fact that music and books are now available on the internet - it is tragic that we have lost Tower Records, Different Light Bookstore and now, the Bodhi Tree......"
There may still be hope for saving the institution, Mr. Thompson says, "Perhaps a wealthy philosopher entrepreneur will come in to buy the store and keep it going, a sort of philosopher king. Or queen."
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