Plaza Midwood bookstore closing, room for redevelopment
The latest casualty of the Plaza Midwood redevelopment are longtime used book buyers. But don’t worry, the owners of the store have said they plan to reopen in a new location about 2 miles away.
Book Buyers, a family owned second-hand bookstore, received a letter a few days ago from the new owner of Midwood Corners shopping center indicating that the store would need to relocate from its 4,000 square foot space to 1306 The Plaza d ‘by January. Dec. 31, co-owner Lee Plutots said Thursday afternoon.
Rather, said the store would remain open until Christmas, which is the busiest time of year for book buyers. Rather’s father, Richard, opened the store 22 years ago.
The mall was sold in March 2020 for $ 8.5 million to EFC Midwood Corners LLC, according to Mecklenburg County real estate records. Other retailers on the site include Akahana Asian Bistro, Dunkin ‘, Hong Kong Chinese, and Dynasty Nails.
Site maps listed online by Thrift Commercial Real Estate show rental is available at a redeveloped site in the first quarter of next year with tenants listed as Akahana, Dunkin ‘and Plaza Midwood Dentistry.
Rather, said that last year the new owners told him they would make improvements to reconfigure the space and the rent would go up. She said the rent would almost double and they couldn’t afford it. Then the letter arrived this week.
“It was kind of out of the blue. We saw it coming a certain way, but we had high hopes, ”said Rather. ” But that did not work.
“I can only assume it was because they found someone who wanted to pay.”
At least one other company received the same letter. Annie Vereen, owner of AFV Exotic Arts dance studio, said she was also told to vacate the premises by January 31. ” she said.
Calls to the owner, Eastern Federal Corp., were not immediately returned Thursday evening.
What’s next for the bookstore
Book Buyers is looking for a new space about 2 miles from the Eastway Crossing Mall on the corner of Central Avenue and Eastway Drive, Rather said.
Book Buyers hopes to reopen by February 1, or sooner, in the new space of around 4,000 square feet, she said.
This story was originally published 3 December 2021 08:43 a.m.