An Oakland bookstore has shut its doors after struggling to recoup business following the COVID-19 pandemic.

For more than 20 years, A Great Good Place for Books was a destination for readers of all ages to discover new stories and connect with fellow book lovers through an array of author events and community gatherings hosted at the space.

On Sunday, June 14, the Montclair Village shop at 6120 La Salle Ave. shuttered permanently, a decision reached after “a slow holiday season and an untenable start to 2026,” according to a GoFundMe campaign created for owner Kathleen Caldwell.

The fundraiser was launched by her sister Bonnie Wentworth in early May to support Caldwell through this period of transition.

“These have been some of the toughest weeks of my life. I’m exhausted,” Caldwell posted to the site  on Saturday, June 13. “Your support, love, and generosity has pulled me through and given me comfort and hope for this next chapter. Thank you.”

Caldwell inherited the shop in 2005 and kept it operating through the pandemic while facing significant personal hardships, including a battle with cancer, sepsis, post-sepsis syndrome and kidney failure, according to the campaign site.

“Kathleen has poured her life savings into the store. Like many struggling small business owners who strive to keep their dream alive, she will be exclusively relying on social security income for her retirement,” Wentworth wrote on the site. “She’s facing a gap of roughly 6 to 10 months between closing the store and when those benefits hopefully will begin. During that window, she needs help covering basic living expenses for her modest lifestyle.”

As of Tuesday, June 16, the campaign has raised $65,731 of its $68,000 goal.

In the lead-up to A Great Good Place for Books’ final days, several regulars returned to visit Caldwell one final time, including Oakland comic and filmmaker W. Kamau Bell.

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This article originally published at Beloved Oakland bookstore closes after more than 20 years.