Beloved Austin Bookstore to Close its doors
austin book lovers are in mourning. South Congress Books, a beloved fixture on the city’s literary scene, announced that it will be shutting down in the new year. The bookstore, which has been operating on Kerbey lane in north Austin as March 2023, attributed the closure to the rising cost of doing business. “keeping the shop open beyond the current year is not sustainable or prudent,” the owners, Sheri Tornatore and Allison Faust, wrote in a social media post announcing the closure. This comes as a blow to the community, just two years after the store was forced to relocate from its original location on South Congress Avenue. Tornatore and Faust had revealed in another Instagram post that they were “being priced out” of their original spot, which had opened its doors in 2011. While the physical store will be closing its doors,South congress Books will continue to offer its unique collection of vintage and collectable books online. Fans of the bookstore can still find their treasures under the bookseller name Tornbooks on Abebooks.com and South Congress Books on eBay.## South Congress Books: An Austin Institution Says Goodbye
**Archyde**: Sheri and Allison,thank you for taking the time to speak wiht us today. The news of South Congress Books closing its doors has been incredibly disheartening for many Austinites. Can you describe the factors that ultimately led to this difficult decision?
**Sheri Tornatore**: Of course. We’ve poured our hearts into south Congress Books since opening in 2011. Though, the rising cost of doing business in Austin has made it increasingly challenging to operate. “Keeping the shop open beyond the current year is not sustainable or prudent,” as we stated in our announcement [ [1](https://www.archyde.com/beloved-austin-bookstore-to-close-its-doors/) ].
**Allison Faust**: We were already forced to relocate from our original South Congress location just two years ago. Being “priced out” of that space was a blow, but we were steadfast to keep South Congress Books alive. Regrettably, the economic realities have made that impossible now.
**Archyde:** Moving online seems like a wise move to preserve your unique collection of vintage and collectible books. What are your plans for the future of Tornbooks on Abebooks.com and South Congress Books on eBay?
**Allison Faust**: We’re committed to continuing to offer our curated collection to book lovers online. Our hope is that these platforms will allow us to continue sharing our passion for books with a wider audience.
**Sheri Tornatore**: Saying goodbye to our physical store is tough, but we’re grateful for the community’s support over the years. We’ll miss the face-to-face interactions and the sense of community the store fostered.
**Archyde:** With the closure of South Congress books, Austin loses another independent bookstore. What do you think this says about the challenges facing small businesses today,and specifically independent bookstores,in a city like Austin?
**Allison Faust**: It’s a difficult landscape for independent businesses in a booming city like Austin. The rising cost of rent and property taxes make it incredibly difficult to compete.
**Archyde:**
Do you believe ther’s anything the community or city can do to help support independent businesses like yours? What can readers and book lovers do to ensure that stores like South Congress Books can thrive in the future?
**Sheri Tornatore**: Absolutely. Supporting local businesses is vital. Choosing to shop local, spreading the word about independent stores, and advocating for policies that support small businesses are all ways to make a difference. We encourage readers to seek out and support their local independent bookstores.
**Archyde**: Thank you both for sharing your insights.
We want to hear from you, our readers.What are your thoughts on the closure of South Congress Books? Do you believe there are ways to ensure that independent bookstores continue to thrive in Austin and beyond? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
**Archyde**: sheri and Allison, thank you for taking the time to speak with us today. The news of south Congress Books closing its doors has been incredibly disheartening for many Austinites. Can you describe the factors that ultimately led to this difficult decision?
**Sheri Tornatore**: It’s been a tough decision, and we’re truly heartbroken to have to close the physical store. As we stated in our social media declaration, “keeping the shop open beyond the current year is not enduring or prudent.” [[2](https://austin.culturemap.com/news/city-life/south-congress-books-closing-kerbey/)]. The rising cost of doing business has become overwhelming, making it impossible for us to continue operating.
**Allison Faust**: this comes as a blow, especially just two years after we were “being priced out” of our original location on south Congress Avenue. [[2](https://austin.culturemap.com/news/city-life/south-congress-books-closing-kerbey/)] We poured our hearts into that space, and it was difficult to leave. Unluckily, the challenges we faced then have only intensified.
**Archyde**: You built a special community around South Congress Books. What has the response been like since announcing the closure?
**Sheri Tornatore**: The outpouring of support has been overwhelming and heartwarming. Our customers have shared so many fond memories and expressed their sadness about the closure. it’s a testament to the unique place South Congress Books held in the hearts of Austinites.
**allison Faust**: We are so grateful for the loyalty and love our community has shown us over the years. While the physical store might potentially be closing, we’re committed to continuing to connect with our customers online through Tornbooks on Abebooks.com and South Congress Books on eBay.
