Kathleen Caldwell, the owner of Montclair’s popular A Great Good Place for Books on La Salle Avenue since 2005, announced on social media last week that she was closing the store in the coming weeks:
One of the great joys of my life has been my role at the helm of Montclair Village’s Great Good Place for the past 22 years. I have loved being a part of your community, watching your children grow up, being their safe place, turning you onto that book I just couldn’t put down, and introducing you to the authors who have set your imaginations on fire. Sadly, it’s time for me to step away. Through many tears, difficult conversations, and sleepless nights I have decided to close A Great Good Place for Books in the weeks ahead. I don’t know what my next chapter looks like but I hope many of you will still be a part of it.Thank you for an amazing ride; who knew GGP was everything I never knew I wanted?
Caldwell told KTVU that the business never recovered from the pandemic when more people turned to online shopping.
A GoFundMe set up on May 3 to help Caldwell weather the transition to retirement described her commitment to her customers and local authors even as she battled health challenges and the disruptions of the COVID years. As of Tuesday, more than $18,000 had been raised toward the $35,000 goal.
