Malvern Books to Close
Literary bastion to empty the shelves on New Year's Eve
By Richard Whittaker, 5:17PM, Mon. Nov. 21, 2022
A sad turn of the page for Austin's readers: Malvern Books, a center for small press and alternative literature, will be closing on Dec. 31.
Opening in 2013, Malvern Books was inherently an act of literary rebellion: against the idea that book stores were dying, against the idea that people didn't want physical media, and against homogenized reading lists, as it gave shelf space to poetry, new translations, and avant garde literature. However, its future had been in question since the death of founder and guiding light Joe W. Bratcher III in August.
In an email sent to customers on Friday, store manager Becky Garcia put it in the simplest terms: "Malvern Books simply cannot continue without our Joe."
Garcia went on to thank all book lovers who have made Malvern Books a unique part of the Austin literary scene, noting, "It has been a wonderful nine years and we thank each and every one of our cherished customers, friends, staff, and suppliers for helping us along the way." She encouraged bibliophiles to keep an eye out for information on sales and specials, and to keep supporting other independent book stores and small press imprints. "There is so much great stuff out there."
Malvern Books
613 W. 29th
malvernbooks.com
Tue.-Sun., noon-5pm
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