Story ends for Lightly Used Books

Lightly Used Books in Turlock to Close its Doors

After five fruitful years as owner of Lightly Used Books in downtown Turlock, Jenni Brannon has made the tough decision to close the beloved second-hand bookstore. “March 30 will be the last day,” Brannon shared, a woman whose passion for books began wiht childhood visits to the library across the street from her home. “The landlord and I agreed that’s when I could fairly break my lease with no penalty.”

BrannonS journey to bookstore ownership was an unexpected one. “I jokingly bought the store five years ago after having a bad day at work,” she recounts. “I came home and all I wanted to do was go into a bookstore and smell the books. I knew the exact book I wanted and where it was located, but the store was closed at the time.” Her pursuit led her to the previous owner, with whom she jokingly offered a price. “The next day, the owner called and accepted it,” Brannon recalls, adding, “I told my husband, ‘I think I accidentally bought a bookstore.'”

Overcoming Early Hardships

Brannon initially planned a grand opening for March 2020, but the COVID-19 pandemic threw a wrench in those plans. The pandemic, coupled with construction in front of her store, hindered initial efforts to establish a customer base. “It took about two years for the community to figure out that the store was open,” Brannon notes.

Furthermore, Lightly Used Books wasn’t eligible for COVID-19 relief funds due to lacking financial records from 2019. “We didn’t have any financials for 2019 and couldn’t prove that the company was real,” Brannon explains.

Financial Pressures and the Decision to Close

Rent increases further exacerbated the challenges, prompting a downsizing of the store in 2022.Despite finally establishing a profitable model,Brannon faced mounting debt and made the tough decision to close. “We kind of knew we had to make some decisions,” she says.”one thing I didn’t want to do was increase the price of books.” Over the past five years, neither Brannon nor her children, who work at the store part-time, have taken a paycheck. “It was all put back into the business,” she shares.

“We accumulated this debt and we’re going to pay it off,” Brannon asserts,demonstrating her commitment to fulfilling her financial obligations. To maintain economic stability, she intends to retain the online component of the business. “About 25 percent of our business comes from the online store,” brannon explains. Popular initiatives like the “Blind Date with a Book” program, which curates personalized book selections based on social media insights, will continue to operate online.

A Vision of the Future

While Brannon is saddened to close the physical store, she remains optimistic about the future of books. “Despite constantly hearing ‘nobody reads books anymore,’ I believe a book renaissance is on the horizon,” she states.

Brannon observes a strong interest in reading among younger generations, especially in genres like history, biography, and true crime. however, she expresses concern for older customers who rely on books for entertainment. “A lot of seniors don’t have cable TV and books are their main source of entertainment,” she explains. To address this, Brannon and her husband are considering a pop-up trailer to bring books directly to these patrons.

Reflecting on the Community Connection

Brannon fondly remembers the supportive community she encountered while running her bookstore.”The other downtown business owners have become like family to me,” she shares. “That has been vrey, very rewarding.” She adds,”The customers have been so sweet and kind.They remember my birthday; they remember my kids’ birthdays; they come into the store and pick up conversations that were started during their last visit. Community … that’s the best part of being a business owner in downtown Turlock. I think that’s what I’m going to miss the most.”

“I didn’t think we were going to become millionaires owning a bookstore, but I was happy and content being part of this community. It’s now self-sustainable. I think we hit that mark in the last 18 months. Hopefully, we get a buyer and you’re able to write an updated story. That would be my new perfect world. I don’t want to see it go away,” Brannon concludes, expressing hope for the future of Lightly Used Books.

What advice would you give to aspiring independent bookstore owners?

An Interview with Jenni Brannon on the Closing of Lightly Used Books in Turlock

After five years of nourishing the literary landscape of downtown Turlock, Jenni Brannon has made the tough decision to close her beloved second-hand bookstore, Lightly Used Books.We sat down with Jenni to discuss her journey, the challenges she faced, and her hopes for the future of the bookstore and the community it served.

From Bad Day to Bookstore Owner

“I jokingly bought the store five years ago after having a bad day at work. I wanted to go into a bookstore, smell the books, and find a specific title. When I saw the store was closed, I spoke to the previous owner the next day, made a jesting offer, and the rest is history.” – Jenni Brannon

navigating Early Challenges and the Pandemic

Initially planned for March 2020, the grand opening of Lightly Used Books was delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic and nearby construction.”It took about two years for the community to realize we were open for business,” Jenni recalls. The pandemic also presented financial challenges,as the store was ineligible for COVID-19 relief funds due to lack of 2019 financial records.

Financial Pressures and the Decision to Close

Despite these hurdles, Jenni and her team worked tirelessly to establish a profitable model. however, rising rent and mounting debt made it increasingly difficult to sustain the business without raising book prices. “We didn’t want to burden our customers, so we made the tough decision to close,” Jenni explains.

To maintain financial stability, Jenni plans to keep the online component of the store running. “About 25% of our business came from our online store, and we’re committed to continuing personalized services like our ‘Blind Date with a Book’ program,” she says.

A Vision for the Future of reading and the Bookstore

While saddened by the closure of the physical store, Jenni remains optimistic about the future of books. “I believe we’re on the cusp of a book renaissance, especially among younger readers. However, I’m concerned about older readers who rely heavily on books for entertainment.We’re exploring options like a pop-up trailer to bring books to them,” she says.

Reflecting on the Community Connection

jenni fondly recalls the supportive community that surrounded her bookstore. “The other downtown business owners became like family, and our customers were always so kind and engaged.I think that’s what I’ll miss the most,” she shares.

Jenni expresses her hope that Lightly Used Books will find a buyer and continue serving the community. “We made the store self-enduring in the last 18 months. I’d love for someone to carry on our mission,” she concludes.

Q: What advice would you give to aspiring independent bookstore owners?

“Be prepared for ups and downs, and never lose sight of your passion for books and community. Also,keep detailed financial records from the start!” – Jenni Brannon