Posted by Wayne G. Barber
Owners of the two Barrington Books in Rhode Island, the very popular store in Cranston’s Garden City Center and their flagship store in Barrington, have decided to close their Cranston store. In an email to customers, they said:
“2020. That’s all we have to say to invoke thoughts of challenge, uncertainty, determination and resilience. This past year has presented us with a lot of life lessons. It has shown us what’s broken about our world, our global community and our economy. But it has also revealed some beautiful things: the support from local community, the humanity shown to neighbors during difficult times, and the importance of resilience and adaptability for small businesses.
What this past year has shown us is that our customers, near and far, have come to expect a certain level of service and product availability, a special sauce of familiarity and attention, no matter how or where it originates. With an incredible effort to grow our online presence and with Rhode Island being so accessible, we have come to the conclusion that less is, in fact, more.
We no longer sense a need for two locations to tell our story to generations to come. To that end, we have been tirelessly planning the ultimate pivot: we have decided not to renew our lease in Garden City and we will be unveiling a completely rejuvenated and enhanced shopping experience in our Barrington location in the weeks to come.
The physical, emotional and financial toll of running two locations during this time of extraordinary strain will last for years to come. Despite that, we are energized by all we’ve learned and we are excited to share it with our team, our customers, friends and neighbors in the form of a total renovation, enhanced culture, streamlined product mix and commitment to social values within our community.
What will not change is the level of service we are known for, our lively events and our partnerships with school systems across the state. This is truly a consolidation and growth project and, to that end, all of our employees who wish to remain will stay on and be a part of this exciting rebirth. We cannot wait to share the next chapter in Barrington Books’ story – coming to you in early Spring 2021.
We thank you for your unwavering support and we appreciate your patience during the next few months of construction and unveiling. We are grateful that we get to share our vision and commitment with all of you. Here’s to another 35 years.”
Ken Hopkins, Mayor of Cranston, was reached for comment. Hopkins said, “”That is too bad. I love that place. My favorite place to buy books and I do read every day. This COVID is taking its toll on our small businesses. ”Source: January 21, 2021/
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