Thanet will have lost three bookshops in just one month when Moon Lane Books in Ramsgate shuts its doors trade from Whitstable later this month.
Broadstairs Book Shop in Albion Street closed last month after more than two decades of trade due to the owner’s retirement.
In Westgate The Classroom bookshop shut today [December 3] after the town’s Christmas light switch-on celebrations, taking the opportunity for one last story time session and a final collection for Community Kindness-Thanet’s Christmas appeal.
Adam Taylor, who runs the shop in Station Road, said the lease expires on December 7 and the current economic climate means it is not viable to renew it.
The award-winning bookshop will instead be mothballed in the hope that it can be relaunched at a later date if a venue “in the right place and the right price” can be found.
The Classroom business, owned by Adam with parents Susan and Graham, offers Kent Test, GCSE and A Level tuition online and this will continue but the book shop has to close.
The business began as a Kumon franchise in Broadstairs in 2002 and two years later moved to St Mildred’s Road, Westgate. Named Kumon Thanet North it also traded as The Classroom offering free 11+ tuition.
In 2009 Adam, Susan and Graham went completely independent as The Classroom and in 2016 moved to the current location in Station Road.
They started selling books in the waiting room area in 2017 until the pandemic hit and all tuition moved all tuition online.
In 2021 The Classroom reopened with a revamped bookshop which was also used to host events and storytelling sessions.
Dad-of-two Adam, who has a background in teaching, is passionate about making sure children have access to books. In February this year he gave out more than 6,300 free books at 21 Thanet and Canterbury schools to mark World Book Day and this is something he is keen to continue despite the shop closure.
Adam has set a target of handing out 10,000 World Book Day books next year and the fundraising page will launch soon.
Ramsgate’s Moon Lane Children’s Books and Toys shop opened in November 2019. The magical world of pictures and words was the creation of children’s author Tamara Macfarlane and business partner Paul Chin. They were joined by Thanet mum Nicci Rosengarten who handled everything from selling to branding and social media.
But the store in Addington Street will hold its last day if trade in the town on December 22.
In a message on social media it says: “Moon Lane Books and Toys on Addington Street will be closing on 22nd of December. However, this is not the end … we have already opened our shop in Whitstable and would love you to come and visit us in our new home.
“After opening our Ramsgate doors in November 2019, we weathered the many storms the following years brought in, from the pandemic to the cost of living crisis, and we will be forever grateful to you all for supporting us.
“Despite the obstacles, we evolved into a destination for families across Thanet and beyond. It has been a complete joy working with the local community, hosting story times and author/illustrator events, engaging and working with schools to ensure every child can access and enjoy books. We will miss each and every one of you and really hope you will visit us in Whitstable.
“We are passionate about Addington Street and Ramsgate and want to ensure that the shop is used in a way that compliments all the other existing shops and brings excitement and interest to the road. If anyone has any ideas or is interested in talking to us about the space please don’t hesitate to get in touch, we would love to hear from you.
Initially, we will be making it available as a pop-up shop bringing new ideas and energy to the road but we are open to all longer-term interest. [email protected] “
Find a bookshop
The isle does still have a selection of bookshops including Michaels in King Street, Ramsgate, Book Bodega in Harbour Street, Ramsgate and The Margate Bookshop in Market Place as well as Waterstones at Westwood Cross and Kinder Collective in Nelson Place, Broadstairs. There is also The Old Bank Bookshop, run by Pilgrims Hospices, at 17 The Parade, Margate, the bookshop at Monkton Nature Reserve and from spring to autumn, Ellington Park Bookshop.
