Cellar Door Books in Riverside need to move after loss of rent (2023)

A few written words hit the owner of the independent Riverside bookstore like a blow to the body. Not a line from a powerful novel or scathing tome of nonfiction, but an email from the owner. Subject line: "Notice of termination of lease."

basement booksHe had until February 28 to vacate the premises of theCanyon Crest Downtown, your house for 10 years. Say no, Canyon Ridge!

Owner Linda Sherman-Nurick was at her home Tuesday night when she read the email in horror. (She never opens a work email at night. Nothing good can come out of her).

The news began to spread on Wednesday - Cati Porter ofnonprofit literature inlandtexted me that night, and it was amplified on Thursday when Cellar Doorposted the news on social media.

The book community is up in arms. Some questioned whether the store's liberal policy, quarterlyDrag Queen Story Timeand masking policies led to the decision. Rep. Mark Takano, D-Riverside, visited Friday to show support for him.

I am disheartened to learn of the Cellar Door Books eviction notice and its possible connection to Drag Queen's story hour performance. Linda, the owner, has been a longtime supporter of our LGBTQ+ community, and these story hours are nurturing spaces for everyone.pic.twitter.com/nQZ6Lvga5J

—Mark Takano (@RepMarkTakano)January 20, 2023

The most recent Drag Queen Storytime was on January 14. someone slappeda Proud Boys sticker on the front door of the store that dayin protest. A man in a pickup truck allegedly harassed families entering the store.

Three days later came the termination of the contract.

“Riverside's first and only independent bookstore@bodega_12he is being targeted by crazy right-wingers. Now #canyoncresttownecenter is refusing to renew their lease."writer Alex Espinoza, UC Riverside writing professor,said on twitter.

Canyon Crest Towne Center general manager Jeff Lerch said that's not the case. I inquired Friday morning about the matter, including the reason for the termination of the lease on February 28th. He responded to me that afternoon with a written statement and a surprise.

“CCTC's ownership and management decision is rumored to be political, racial or otherwise motivated and linked to Cellar Door Books' special events and customers,” Lerch wrote. "In fact, these rumors are completely and utterly unfounded and couldn't be further from the truth."

Known for its Ralphs Market, restaurants, red tile roof, and bubbling fountain, the upscale downtown area is owned by its original developers, the Thompson family. Patriarch Mark Thompson died in August 2021, and just nine months later, his 37-year-old son Scott, who succeeded him, also died.

“This tragic second blow hit the Thompson family deeply as they struggled to cope with the losses and get the center back up and running,” Lerch said. After a period of interim management, Lerch assumed those roles on January 1 with plans for "a larger strategic initiative" that will affect multiple tenants.

“Cellar Door Books was not in rent delinquency, has paid its lease obligations on time, and has no outstanding claims against them,” Lerch said. "As part of the transition, management and ownership have decided to terminate Cellar Door Books' lease and have given them until March 31, 2023 to relocate their operations."

One more month! The respite was new to Sherman-Nurick when I called her on Friday afternoon. (As a journalist, it's a nice change to be the bearer of good news.)

“That's helpful, thank you. I appreciate it, ”he told me her. “There are still only two months left before the move, but it is better than before.”

Next time you log in, you might get a free bookmark.

Sherman-Nurick will meet with supporters, including a realtor, on Sunday to discuss how to quickly find a space in Riverside and how to pay to move. The current space is 17,000 square feet. The center is a desirable option.

When we spoke Thursday, he was concerned that there would be no way to find a space by the end of February, which would mean he would also have to figure out how to stock the store's 10,000 books in the meantime.

Having until March 31 might be enough time to eliminate that extra headache, he told me on Friday, but it will still require quick action.

Since a bookstore doesn't make a lot of money, she couldn't afford the common area maintenance fee that was charged on top of her rent. She was paying out of her personal funds during the initial four-year contract. The Thompsons released her from that fee in 2016 in exchange for a monthly rent, she said.

He acknowledged that management had the right to terminate his contract at any time and that this was not strictly an eviction. However, he said Thursday that the abrupt termination was "disrespectful" to a long-term tenant who paid her rent on time.

The expressions of support, both online and in face-to-face meetings with customers, were encouraging. She let him know that there were reasons to continue.

“The first day, I panicked,” Sherman-Nurick said. "But we have a wonderful community that feels like this store is important to them."

Cellar Door bills itself as the only independent bookstore in the Inland Empire. There are other places that sell new books, includinga children's bookstore in redlands, and a few used bookstores, including two in Riverside.

But Cellar Door seems to be the only local store in the area that only sells new books. Astonishing, especially in a metropolitan area that serves 2.5 million people.

It's our Vroman's, our book soup. If Cellar Door disappears, so what?

“I'm angry to hear this news,” customer Justin Holzer told me as he left the store on Thursday. “This bookstore is part of our community.”

Holzer pulled out two cookbooks that his wife had specially requested. His 14-year-old daughter has been going to the store since she was 4 years old.

“My daughter, all she knows is that this bookstore is open,” Holzer said.

Sherman-Nurick, a Riverside resident since his teens, was teaching English at Riverside City College when, to fill a void, he launched Cellar Door Books.

The opening day was around October 20, 2012, a few days ahead of schedule. “People would stop and say, ‘Open up! Open it! '" he recalled. "We didn't have many books on our shelves. I didn't know how to do this.

The store quickly became a mainstay at author events and book clubs. The number and variety of books expanded to fully embrace black writers and the LGBTQ community.

The shop has hosted Drag Queen Storytime events, where drag queens read picture books to children, often since 2018 for up to 80 children and parents at a time.

The message to children, Sherman-Nurick said, is that "there are all kinds of people out there and that's okay."

All the support of the past few days has only confirmed their commitment to keeping Cellar Door Books in Riverside.

She told me, "This is the community that was built here."

David Allen writes on Sundays, Wednesdays and Fridays and reads every day. Email dallen@scng.com, call 909-483-9339, like columnist davidallen on Facebook and follow @davidallen909 on Twitter.