Sun 4 Sep 2005
San Jose Mercury: Burst of community support after Kepler’s closing could spur its return
Posted by Rick under Books, General, Save Kepler's
1 Comment
HongDao Nguyen has an article in today’s San Jose Mercury News.
Days after Kepler’s, the landmark bookstore in Menlo Park, shuttered its doors amid financial woes, owner Clark Kepler said Saturday there’s still hope of reviving the business.
Kepler said he has received an outpouring of community support since the store’s abrupt closure Wednesday. And the Tan Group, owners of the building that housed the store on El Camino Real, approached Kepler last week to see if they could work something out, he said.
Another meeting is scheduled Tuesday. Representatives of the Tan Group could not be reached for comment Saturday.
If those talks go well, Kepler said, “I think we have a real good chance of returning.” A handful of potential financial investors have also contacted Kepler to offer help, Kepler said, though he declined to identify them.
….
Clark said Saturday that the love he has gotten since Wednesday has been like a “fairy tale.” People have even asked to volunteer their time working at the store, if that would help.But he said, “What it really needs is substantial financial support.”
See the full article here. (Free subscription required.) Also in the Mercury today, Tom Parker remembers Kepler’s: “Cozy bookstore was a social hub for generations.”
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September 4th, 2005 at 8:54 am
Thu, 01 Sep 2005 17:06:52 -0700 View Contact Details
From: “Kae Lewis”
To: 4onbeard@sbcglobal.net, nancy-george@sbcglobal.net, stepgame@yahoo.com
CC: aprice@asc.upenn.edu, SLewis@cde.ca.gov, clewis619@cox.net, Edlewis48@cs.com, mimi.lewis@csus.edu
Subject: RE: and the times they are a chaaaaangin’
I must admit my first reaction was: where will we go to Mass? Horrors, it’s like they’ve taken our youth. Yanked our past out from under us. I’m glad that I was just there on August 6. There seemed to be no sign of pending problems. In my early college days, Kepler’s was my source of radical politico-economic thought (well, it was the sixities afterall). I’m sure Kepler’s is responsible for my ongoing contempt for Republicanism. As I mellowed out, I just loved it for a good read (make it lite; I’ve graduated, I did my time). Gosh, Berrone’s custard/coffee and a new book, it didn’t get much better than that. Sigh….
>>> George Welch-george@sbcglobal.net> 09/01/05 4:47 PM >>>
Hi everyone,
I read your e-mail, then went on line, concerning Kepler’s. It’s sad that it’s closing.I do remember taking the kids and also, going with the sisters’. And of course w/mom & dad. Mom & dad are sad, we all know that! Love, Nancy
don scott <4onbeard@sbcglobal.net> wrote:
Susan,
Thanks for spreading this news. Very sad news indeed … fond memories of the old Kepler’s in my younger years (cliff notes and all) …even after moving from area, I always stopped by for old times sake plus Kepler’s reminded me of dad in his later years … I’m beginning to feel like the employees – not good.
-Di
Date: Thu, 1 Sep 2005 16:47:33 -0700 (PDT)-george@sbcglobal.net> Add to Address Book-george@sbcglobal.net>, clewis619@cox.net, “‘Sally Lewis’” , “‘Annette Price’” , mimi.lewis@csus.edu, “‘Kae Lewis’”
From: “George Welch”
Subject: RE: and the times they are a chaaaaangin’
To: “don scott” <4onbeard@sbcglobal.net>, “‘Susan Thomson’”
CC: Edlewis48@cs.com, “‘George Welch’”
Hi everyone,.lewis@csus.edu> Add to Address Book-george@sbcglobal.net>, clewis619@cox.net, “Sally Lewis” , “Annette Price” , “Kae Lewis”
I read your e-mail, then went on line, concerning Keplers’. It’s sad that it’s closing.I do remember taking the kids and also, going with the sisters’. And of course w/mom & dad. Mom & dad are sad, we all know that! Love, Nancy
Keplers Closing
Date: Thu, 1 Sep 2005 14:59:56 -0700
From: “Mimi Lewis”
To: “don scott” <4onbeard@sbcglobal.net>, “Susan Thomson”
CC: Edlewis48@cs.com, “George Welch”
Susan and Associated Menlo Parkers,
I was just reading a book purchased at Kepler’s last April. I looked at
the sticker on the book and saw that it was from Kepler’s and thought
“That Kepler’s…what a wonderful store. Would I have ever found this gem
of a book any place else?” Your news is very sad indeed.
I recall that instead of going to the 5:15 mass at St. Raymond’s, I
would go to Kepler’s. (Then I would tell dad that I went to mass…). I
will never forget the old store, on the west side of El Camino, yes? It
had all of those black and white posters on the wall, way up high.
There was something very radical about those posters and about the entire
attitude of the store.
The new store on El Camino, on the east side of El Camino, was
definitely a product of the “new Menlo.” It was slick and clean and orderly.
It was associated with the very slick Cafe Barrones, where one could
feel like they were visiting Paris, instead of downtown Menlo. (Later,
Barrones lost all of its “wonder” because every other cafe in the
country started to look like it.)
—–Original Message—–
From: don scott [mailto:4onbeard@sbcglobal.net]
Sent: Thu 9/1/2005 2:50 PM
To: ‘Susan Thomson’
Cc: Edlewis48@cs.com; ‘George Welch’; clewis619@cox.net; ‘Sally
Lewis’; ‘Annette Price’; Mimi Lewis; ‘Kae Lewis’
Subject: RE: and the times they are a chaaaaangin’
From: “Sarah Folger” View Contact Details
To: “‘Susan Thomson’”
Subject: RE: and the times they are a chaaaaangin’
Date: Thu, 1 Sep 2005 14:45:18 -0700
Clark:
The preceding emails are in response to an email I sent my friends & family.
Onward ever. Backward never!
Best of luck.
-Susan Thomson