After 12 years running Watsonville’s only bookstore, Kelly Pleskunas will hang up her closed sign at Kelly’s Books for the last time Nov. 4.
“I want to send a heartfelt thank you to all the customers who have supported me these past 12 years,” she said. “I will miss you all; I have made a lot of great friends here. It’s just not possible to stay open any longer than November 4.”
Pleskunas said that the pandemic sent many of her customers to shop for books on Amazon.
“Amazon won,” she said.
Her store, which features new and used books for adults, a children’ s section, books in Spanish and unique local gifts, stems from Crossroads Books, which opened its doors in the Crossroads Center across Main Street in 1994. Pleskunas bought the business from Jan Van Wordenberg in 2011 and moved across Main Street to her current spot in 2016.
“It’s been awesome to have a local place that is not the internet,” said long time customer, Daryl Nelson. “Kelly is a wonderful person and her store will be missed.”
Pleskunas said that everything must go now, including books, bookcases and tables.
“There are still loads of new and used books here, gift items and cards,” she said.
She recommends that book hounds visit Bookshop Santa Cruz in downtown Santa Cruz, Downtown Book and Sound in Salinas or Shop Two Birds on 41st Ave. in Capitola.
Ed Frost wandered into the shop Tuesday to pick up Stephen King’s latest novel.
“I’ve been coming in here for years,” he said. Of the upcoming closure, he simply added, “I’m heartbroken.”
For information, visit watsonvillebooks.com or call 728-4139. Special orders can be made up to Oct. 11.
Thank you for this story, Tarmo! I’m saddened, but also happy to have been informed of Kelly” existence while I can still make the drive from Santa Cruz to visit. I want to second Ms Pleskunas’ recommendations for future bookshopping in my area, Two Birds, and Bookshop Santa Cruz. Best wishes, Kelly!