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Last August, Wordsmiths customers helped it avoid shutting down. As of today, however, the popular downtown Decatur bookstore is closed.

From its blog:

I’ve pondered how to start this, but this is the best I can come up with. There is no great way to begin the end of a dream, and there is no gentle way to state that finality is upon you. That said, I regret to announce that, as of Monday, March 2nd, 2009, Wordsmiths Books will close its doors for good. I don’t do this willingly, and I would love to say that there were avenues of exploration yet to wander, possibilities that could avert this outcome, but that would be untruthful. I have explored every possibility open to me, but the sheer magnitude of the decline in sales alone (on the heels of our efforts to right the boat) from our current economic downturn has long since evaporated the fumes. Frankly put, there’s nothing left to make the engine go, and sitting on the side of the road with a thumb out doesn’t seem to earn you much grace as a business.

Be sure to read it in full as it’s a poignant goodbye post.

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Max Arbes and CL’s Debbie Michaud spread the word about tonight’s party to celebrate the 2009 Fiction Contest winners! Join CL, along with Wordsmith’s Books, Oxford Comics, Highland Bakery, local band Night Moves Gold, and more at 7 p.m. tonight, Thurs., Jan. 8, at Eyedrum (290 Martin Luther King Jr. Drive, Suite 8. 404-522-0655. www.eyedrum.org.)

Air Loaf is broadcast weekdays on 1690 WMLB-AM at approximately 8:10 a.m., 12:20 p.m. and 6:20 p.m.

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1) Greg Melville discusses Greasy Rider at Wordsmiths Books.

2) The Vortex Bar and Grill Midtown hosts Boozer Doodle.

3) Dressy Bessy plays Smith’s Olde Bar.

4) Atlanta Opera performs Madama Butterfly at Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre.

5) Phantom Planet plays the Masquerade.

(Photo by Marie Johnson)

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Remember how we told you that Wordsmiths Books could be shutting its doors soon? Well a fundraising blitzkrieg the past couple of weeks helped the indie bookstore collect enough dough to remain in operation, at least through the fall.

Owner Zachary Steele elaborated in a press release sent earlier this afternoon:

We asked for your help. We asked for the chance to take this business and turn it forward. …And you responded…thanks to you all, we are still here. …There is still much for us yet to do. We have operating expenses caught up and have made some traction into tomorrow, but we will still be working on paying down our debts for the foreseeable future. I would be remiss to state that all is well and that we are completely in the clear, though we are at least now in a position to address our concerns. I am still working to secure the long-term future of the bookstore.

Down, but definitely not out.

(Photo by Dustin Chambers)

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Wordsmiths Books could be shutting its doors soon.

The Decatur bookstore responsible for scores of literary workshops, quirky local music showcases and inventive author events can’t pay the bills. Debt left over from its former location on W. Trinity Place (it’s now located around the corner in the old Sun Trust building on N. McDonough Street) and an unprofitable recent event have left owner Zachary Steele in the red.

From a blog by Steele:

The reality of Wordsmiths is that, though it began with a great push, it did so in the wrong location. That location drained its resources and left a lagging parachute of debt … to compound our difficulties, we handled the sales for a large scale event recently that did not return the investment that we were required to pay up front. Such is the way, I could say, but the timing was incredibly poor.

For the next couple of weeks, Wordsmiths will be collecting donations to help pay off the debt and keep the store open. The fundraising push culminates Aug. 15-17 with the Saving Bookstores is AWESOME!!! Night of AWESOME!!!! in conjunction with PASTE magazine and BabyGotBooks.com. The event features local fave Jack Pendarvis and his new robot-love novel Awesome, a performance from Atlanta indie outfit the Sealions, and a silent robot art auction. E-mail Wordsmith’s director of marketing Russ Marshalek (russ@wordsmithsbooks.com) about creating and donating a robot for the auction.

The shop’s also accepting donations of all sizes at its website or mailed to 545 N. McDonough St., Decatur, GA 30030. It wouldn’t hurt to visit the store and buy some books either.

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1) KT Tunstall performs at the Atlanta Botanical Garden.

2) Wordsmiths Books host the Black and Red Prom to celebrate Stephenie Meyer’s new book, Breaking Dawn.

3) The Georgia Peace and Justice Coalition holds a benefit concert at Wonderroot, featuring Hope for Agoldensummer and more.

4) Comedian Kathleen Madigan performs at the Punchline.

5) Unknown Hinson and Syrens of the South perform at the Earl.

(Photo by Barrie Thompson)

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Find out tonight when McWilliams appears at Wordsmiths Books for a reading/signing for American Pests: The Losing War on Insects from Colonial Times to DDT (Columbia University Press). The book appears to argue that the war on insects has been about as counter-productive as the war on terrorism. The event starts at 7:30 p.m., and is free to the public. Here’s McWilliams talking about his book …

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