Halifax's Frog Hollow Books closing

Another fine independent book and magazine store is going out of business, this time in Halifax. According to a posting on The Coast, Frog Hollow Books, which moved recently will close August 22. In a letter to customers, owner Heidi Hallet explained:

A number of things have contributed to this decision, from ever increasing rents, the slumping economy and increased competition from online, big box stores, discount retailers and grocery stores. Sales at Frog Hollow have dropped by 50 percent since 2003. After reviewing our second quarter sales, I had to make the gut wrenching decision that the business is no longer viable. While our move to Brenton Street resulted in an immediate increase in traffic and sales in June, it was simply not enough to see us through these incredibly difficult times. Closing Frog Hollow is a decision that has been very difficult to make, but we have exhausted our options over the last year and a half. Anyone who has been following our story knows that closing is a last resort for us.

This is but the latest in a lamentable string of closures (see related posts below) across the country, as independent magazine and book retailers find the going too tough. It's alarming for small, independent publishers who have always found sympathy for their challenges among retailers who share similar challenges.

Related posts:

• Pages Books & Magazines to close
• Front Page newsstand, an Edmonton fixuture, to close
• Vancouver's Magpie Gallery to close