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.”