The red and black letters on the side of Haslam’s Book Store, peeling after years in the Florida sun, told the bookworms of St. Petersburg everything they’d want to hear.

The mural promised “over 300,000 books in stock,” a tradition of “books bought and sold since 1933.”

It asked readers to “come in and browse” the “over 100,000 titles from Art to Zoology and ‘A’ to ‘Izzard.’”

Five years ago, the pandemic pushed Haslam’s to close in the interest of public safety. The words painted outside the building provided hope for those who imagined one day returning to peruse the dusty shelves inside.

In September, the murals were painted over. The Haslam’s sign is gone.

On Oct. 10, we dedicated our Rundown newsletter to the unique challenges of reporting on an institution at the center of public intrigue, especially when its owners have been quiet for years.

We last heard from Ray Hinst, co-owner of Haslam’s, in 2021, after the store’s Google business profile stated it was “permanently closed.”

“For a variety of personal and professional reasons Suzanne and I are still undecided about reopening the bookstore to the public,” Hinst said in an email. “We appreciate everyone’s interest and are trying to consider all aspects of the situation. In the meantime our kitties are very happy in their new homes in the area.”

Hinst has not responded to numerous requests for comment since, including recent emails. In the meantime, the Tampa Bay Times has written about the store’s history, traditions, cats and projected property value, as well as what the space could potentially become.

In a newsletter, we asked readers to share their memories and thoughts about Haslam’s. If this is really the end, what does Tampa Bay have to say?

Dozens replied. Responses have been edited for length and clarity.

On niche finds

“I could find any book at Haslam’s — out of print, old Civil War histories, gospel histories, a 1945 copy of ‘God Calling’ and an 1883 Civil War autobiography first printing. The biggest treat, aside from the wonderful atmosphere, was petting the cat. That critter made every trip a very special event!!” — Devin Neitzert

“All those genealogy tomes sitting in there haunt me.” — Lori Howe

“A few years after moving to Tampa, I decided to study ancient Greek. Because the New Testament is written in a dialect of ancient Greek, I needed a New Testament lexicon. Looking around in Haslam’s I found one. I still use it. It’s old and beat up from heavy use by students, but it works just fine.” — Hugh Lawson

“As a young woman in the early 1970s I lived about three blocks from Haslam’s and frequented the bookstore on weekends. Not interested in the latest arrivals, I haunted the backroom shelves which were loaded with old poetry and history books. There was a spiritual silence among those dimly lit isles. I still have my collection of early editions of Ella Wheeler Wilcox, Sara Teasdale and Samuel Hoffenstein, all purchased at bargain basement prices. I truly love Haslam’s. It has a special spot in my jar of memories, and I have watched with concern as its rooms full of books languish behind locked doors. To see the storefront painted over was heartbreaking and I continue to hold out hope for a grand return of an irreplaceable St. Pete landmark.” — Deborah Van Fossen

On the comics

“Back in the 1950s, my friend Joan and I used to take the bus downtown and go to Haslam’s. Mr. Haslam used to let us sit in the front window and read comic books. The store was on the other side of Central near First National Bank. We weren’t allowed to read comics at home, so it was grand. Thanks, Mr. Haslam.” — Priscilla Pridgen

“Used comic books were a nickel in the late 50s and early 60s, and you would get 2¢ for comics you traded in. I recall getting lots of old books at Haslam’s for 5¢ each, things that would be worth hundreds of dollars each today. If something was really old, like from the early 1940s, they’d charge a dime each. Such books were not found often, but every once in a great while I would find random issues of Batman, Captain America, Sub-mariner or Captain Marvel from the 1940s. Comics from the 1950s were much more common and I was able to fill in gaps in my collection from places like Haslam’s.

Now, bear in mind, old comics like these were almost impossible to find back then. There was no internet or eBay or big comic book dealers. I recall taking my small stash of Golden Age comics to my high school art class some years later. This was a time when you just didn’t admit to reading comics if you were a teenager, so I was a bit trepidatious about showing them to anyone. In my class was another guy who I thought might be a comic reader, so I opened my notebook and showed him the small group of 1940s comics. His eyes practically popped out of his head, and he exclaimed ‘Where did you get these???’ I felt good about that.” — Alan Hutchinson

On romance

“My husband is one of those extremely rare people who is actually born and raised in St. Pete (in fact, his dad was also, making him an even rarer second-generation St. Pete native). When he was growing up, he and his mom would go to Haslam’s OFTEN. The owner Ray would set aside all kinds of history and science fiction books for this extremely eager little boy who DEVOURED them.

Haslam’s was so special to him growing up that when we visited St. Pete as a couple for the first time, it was one of the first places he took me. When we moved here later, it was an essential stop on every single date night. And when we got engaged, we actually took our engagement photos there. Here’s the Facebook post where Ray actually shared his excitement at our engagement and the store’s part in making St. Pete feel like home for both a recent transplant and a second-generation native.

We now have two kids of our own, and it breaks my heart that we haven’t been able to continue the tradition of Haslam’s book shopping trips, but we’re doing our best with Tombolo, Book Rescuers, and others (though nothing hits quite the same).” — Amanda Baird

On school memories

“I was a middle school lit teacher until 2016 and over the years I made many a pilgrimage to Haslam’s. Yes, I went to pick up books they ordered for me, or just to wander the stacks and maybe find a hidden gem, and OF COURSE to pet the cats! But my most frequent visits were to stock up on paperbacks for my classroom library — a dependable and affordable source for the volumes to be devoured by the hungry minds of adolescents. Miss ya, Haslam’s!” — Marty Brinsko

“My main memory of Haslam’s was going down there to buy supplies for NHS. It was 1955 and the middle of the beard-growing contest for Homecoming at SPHS. I really looked unkempt with a week’s worth of facial hair, very unusual for a high school senior back then. I’ve never had store clerks look at me and watch my movements as suspiciously before or since.” — Andy Rivkind

On the future

“Dying for it to reopen, waitin’, waitin’, waitin’ since we came to Florida! It’s unique!” — Michaelene Lourenco

“You can just write off Haslam’s. I guarantee you after all these years the shop has mold, and so do the books. Sad and neglectful.“ — Ray Murtaugh

“In 2022 my wife and I were visiting relatives in Tampa, and they gave us a quick tour of St. Pete for the first time. As we drove through the city we saw Haslam’s bookstore. I thought, ‘This must be a great city! Look at the size of that bookstore!’ We decided to move to the area in 2023, ending up in Gulfport. I couldn’t wait to explore Haslam’s. I obviously was disappointed to learn it was closed . . . but I still held out hope. Surely, they’ll reopen or sell it to someone who would reopen it. Every time I drive by it, my imagination wondered at what treasures might still be inside there.” — Barry Rinehart

“This mug still resides on my desk…a perpetual reminder of memorable afternoons in an establishment that fed my soul!!“ — Jo Ann Moldenhauer

“They have painted over the concrete on the side and front… Is that a good sign or the death knell?!” — Laura Dann

“Loved Haslam’s. Fabulous store, people who worked there were smart, helpful. Just a great place and a big loss to the community. However, I do love Tombolo Books and to a lesser extent, Book and Bottle. The Tombolo people are also wonderful, knowledgeable, good people. And I’m trying to buy fewer books in a half-hearted attempt at downsizing. But if Haslam’s decides to open to the public to get rid of those books, I am there!” — Ann M. Rubinstein

“It used to bring me pleasure to walk into Haslam’s and smell the old book smell and walk the creaky floors and be amazed by the amount of books in that building! I would love to have that pleasure again someday!” — Judy Henzel