After nearly 50 years, The Book Rack plans to close its doors next month.
The University Hills bookstore will close permanently on Sunday, Sept. 13, bringing an end to nearly five decades in the Denver community.
The Book Rack owner Cathi Kern, when reach by phone by The Post on Wednesday, declined to provide further details, saying there was no information to share at this time.
Kern, a longtime Denver resident and lifelong reader, took over as owner three years ago, according to an April Instagram post.
While the reason for the closure remains undisclosed, the store has announced that it could close sooner if it sells out of its inventory.
“Thank you for sharing your story with us for 49 years,” the store wrote on social media in late July. “We are closing September 13 and would love to see you before then.”
The Book Rack, 4061 E. Wesley Ave. near the intersection of South Colorado Boulevard and East Iliff Avenue, says on its website that it is the only used bookstore that has operated continuously in Denver since 1977.
Fans and community members expressed heartbreak in response to the longtime bookstore’s social media post, with some thanking the store for its years of service and others reminiscing about fond memories of the location.
The store was also included in the 2025 Denver Legacy Business Program Registry, which recognizes Denver businesses that have operated for 10 years or more.
Over the years, The Book Rack has offered thousands of books across a wide range of fiction and nonfiction genres, along with candles, notebooks, bookish gifts and more than 100 puzzles. The store loved used paperbacks and has been especially proud of its Classics and Mystery sections.
The bookstore is no longer accepting books or puzzles for credit or cash.
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