Seismic Retrofit Pushes Out Popular Hayes Valley Bookstore

Landlord pushes out bookstore to fix property; plans to rent to boutique.

Seismic retrofits will mean the loss of a San Francisco bookstore.

Hayes Valley bookshop Bibliohead, which has been on Gough Street for about a decade, is being pushed out of its building so that the landlord can peform necessary earthquake-preparedness work, according to the San Francisco Examiner.

But then after the work is done? The bookstore won't be back, but will instead be replaced by a "high-end boutique," according to the newspaper.

A 2013 law requires owners of "soft-story" buildings to make fixes to keep the buildings together during a temblor. Melissa Richmond, the owner, says she tried to cut a deal that would see her pay for some of the renovations, but was rejected.

This, despite banner sales at the bookstore, which had one of its best months ever last month, the newspaper reported.

In the meantime, Richmond is starting an Indiegogo campaign to see if her customers and other fans of bookstores can help her find a new location.

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