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UPDATE:Olsson's has since posted a press release on their web site announcing the closing of all five locations. They've also created a blog-style testimonial page for fans of the local chain to leave their thoughts on the news.
Olsson Enterprises, Inc., trading as Olsson's Books & Records, Record & Tape Ltd., and Olsson's Books announced today that it has closed all of its locations and petitioned the U.S. Bankruptcy Court District of Maryland for conversion of its current Chapter 11 protection to Chapter 7.The reasons given for the petitioning were stagnant sales, low cash reserves, and an inability to renegotiate current leases, along with a continuing weak retail economy and plummeting music sales.
The Dupont Circle location of local bookstore chain Olsson's abruptly closed today, with signs having been taped in the window thanking customers for 16 36 years in the Washington area. A single flower had been placed in the doorway, appearing to be the beginnings of a shrine.
The signs on the door direct customers looking for more information to the Olsson's web site, however no information had yet to be posted there about the closing as of this afternoon. The phone was not answered at any of the remaining Olsson's locations, which includes Crystal City, Old Town, Courthouse, and National Airport. An email to Olsson's asking for confirmation of the closure of one or all of the chain's retail stores has yet to be returned.
Olsson's filed for bankruptcy in June, shortly after it closed its other D.C. location in Penn Quarter.
Since we have so far been unable to reach anyone at any Olsson's store, if you have any information about the status of the other locations, please let us know in the comments.
Photos by Ian Buckwalter
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This really sucks. I was just in there Sunday afternoon, and everything appeared as normal. Of course their music selection isn't nearly what it used to be, but I was still able to find some interesting stuff.
i guess it's RIP olsson's. yet another local chain consigned to the dustbin of history.
Another local casualty of the web and big box bookstore (Borders down the street). I sure hope Melody Records can hold on.
This makes me sad. When I used to work near the Dupont store, I must have spent hundreds and hundreds of dollars there on books and CDs, as well as wasted hours upon hours of work time browsing aimlessly. They used to have a pretty decent music selection and a generous frequent buyer program.
This sucks.
So sad! Over the years, I've spent my fair share of time and money in the small chain...It will be missed!
Aw, Super Suck!
I worked for Olssons for 5 years at the end of high school and on breaks through college, although never specifically at the DuPont location.
This sucks, and its really bad for the remaining stores as Dupont was often the strongest performer while I was there. Still it is very hard to stay in business when your company is used as a barometer for choosing locations by larger chains. I guarantee that at any of the remaining stores you can find a Barnes & Noble or a Borders within a few blocks
Hopefully they can contract and get through this, but I am not too optimistic.
BOO.
All five stores have closed. Dupont Circle, Courthouse, Crystal City, Reagan National, and Old Town-Alexandria.
The company was forced into Chapter 7 bankruptcy in June by creditors, re-organized and filed Chapter 11, and now has re-filed for Chapter 7 liquidation.
Also, a correction: Olsson's was 36 years old, not 16. It was DC's oldest independent bookstore.
Bailout Olsson's!
Weird. I was just at the Crystal City store yesterday, having just then noticed that it was there. I feel bad now that I didn't buy anything.
I went there on my lunch break to buy Terry Pratchett's new book. There was a small mob of people looking at the sign and taking pictures. Maybe former employees, as some were taking things out of the store. What a bummer.
re: "correction: Olsson's was 36 years old, not 16"
Yeah, I caught that too but thought it meant that store's specific address. I do remember way back when Olson's was on the Conn. Ave side of the same building before it was completely renovated. It has been nice having Olsons on that block to provide us with a consistent neighbor over all those years. And i know as a small business owner how difficult it can be maintaining a storefront in this city.
...this on top of the official announcement that Orpheus Records in Clarendon will shut its doors on 10/12.
Really...what does this say about us all - not just in DC but everywhere? Sheez.
this no doubt is a direct result of the Large Hadron Collider (Satan's work).
While I realize that there are chain stores nearbymost of the Olsons, I highly suspect if you did research, that Internet book and music selling is much more responsible than the presence of chain stores...but that's just a feeling, no evidence or anything.
how does Olsson's close and Books-a-million stay open?
But... but... I was just there yesterday. Man, this really stinks, 'specially as i work across the street. Kramerbooks is nearby, at least, so I drink away my sorrows while still enjoying some local bookstore ambiance.
I had loved how common independent bookstores were in this area when I moved here. This truly disheartens me.
I'll miss it and have fond memories of shopping at the old georgetown store -- but to be honest I haven't gone in Olsson's in ages.
Say hi to Kemp Mill for us when you get to small chain heaven.
Won't city life be great when our urban centers consist of condos, Starbuck's, and wine bars... and nothing else?
how does Olsson's close and Books-a-million stay open?
Hopefully they can answer that once the Large Hadron Collider is back up and running.
how does Olsson's close and Books-a-million stay open?
Location - B-a-M is much more visible so they get the tourist business. Really too bad, Olsson's was a quality store.
B-a-M's predecessor, Crown Books actually did go out of business around 2000. I hate to hear this news about Olsson's though, another local business bites the dust. I hope Lamda Rising doesn't suffer the same fate.
"how does Olsson's close and Books-a-million stay open"
agree location contributed; but quantity always rules over quality.
I am actually pretty grateful for BAM tonight since they allow puppies in their store and I took shelter there for over an hour when it started to rain on our walk...
Oh, this is so sad! I grew up in DC, but haven't lived there in years -- I was so excited to read at Olsson's for my new novel, So Many Ways to Sleep Badly, in December (planned for December 3) -- now I guess I'll have to find a new location...
Lots of fond Proustian memories of Olsson's. We'd always stop by after a movie at the Key or Biograph or the one in Dupont and poke around the semiology, film and erotica sections. In the pre-MP3 days, the Georgetown store had a decent selection of unpopular CDs and obscure history books which, I guess in hindsight, is why they went out of business. But I guess what I'll miss the most will be the hot goths/punks/book geeks they used to hire. Olsson's was smart enough to know that a cute pierced face, a bright red dye job, and a huge tattooed rack at the front counter brings in business. Just not the same now, what with everybody's granny sporting tramp stamps. I hate America.
CRAP! I had a discount coupon I never used! If only Ben Bernakky would've warned me, I'da done some Emergency Xmas Shopping to bail them out! Dang.