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Canterbury Booksellers to close
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by Joanna Salmen
Monday, January 19, 2004
Canterbury Booksellers will close its doors March 1 after 13 years of business in downtown Madison. Avol’s Book Store will move into the space Canterbury now occupies at 315 W. Gorham St.
Canterbury will be moving out of the space by Feb. 29 and will have a 20 percent discount on all books until then. Avol’s hopes to officially open its doors March 1.
Canterbury Booksellers owner Trudy Barash said she had not seriously thought about retiring until she read a newspaper story about Avol’s struggle to stay open because of leasing troubles. After a series of discussions with Avol’s owner Ron Czerwien, Barash decided it was an opportunity she could not pass up.
“It was the moment,” Barash said, noting that she did not know when anyone else would want the large space Canterbury inhabits.
“It was a hard decision,” Barash said, adding she needed to spend more time with her family. “Running an independent bookstore is all-consuming. I have to work all the time.” Barash said her customers are sad to see her and the store go, but many have informed her they will try out the new store.
“They are thrilled an independent business is moving in, not to mention another bookstore,” Barash said. “I hope they will give it a chance and see what they can find.”
Although Avol’s is a used bookstore, Czerwien has vowed to keep many of Canterbury’s unique traits alive, including special-ordering new books. Czerwiein said the book-a-night program will continue and a modified reading series with local authors and poets will also remain.
“We hope to continue in the tradition of Canterbury,” Czerwien said. “We also hope its customers will let us introduce them to the world of used books.” Because of the shift in companies, eight Canterbury employees will lose their jobs, while Avol’s plans to keep all of its staff employed. However, Barash is not worried about the fate of her employees.
“I have great hopes for them,” Barash said. “They all have skills that are easily transferable.”
Barash noted she will help them find jobs and has offered them generous severance packages.
Barash and her husband still own the building, which also houses Ancora Coffee Roasters coffeehouse, and will continue to operate the Canterbury Inn. Barash will also read children’s stories aloud as she has done in the past.
The atmosphere and readings held in the bookstore are the things Barash will miss most.
“There is a magical aura here during that time. In those hours, I know nobody had as good of a time as we had,” she said.
The diverse and creative people Barash came in contact with through her job are also something she treasures.
“I would have never come in contact with so many wonderful people had it not been for Canterbury,” Barash said. “It has been amazing.”
