On Saturday evening in downtown Colorado Springs, as music blared from bars and clubs and nighttime revelers walked the streets, about a dozen customers perused the shelves at a bookstore that would close its doors for good in less than an hour.

The Tattered Cover’s Colorado Springs location spent its brief life at 112 Tejon St., having opened just 16 months before. On Wednesday, the news broke that the Denver-based bookstore chain, amid financial troubles that caused its parent company to file for bankruptcy, would close three of its seven stores, including the downtown shop.

The closing evidently came as a surprise to Leah Guest, manager of the downtown store. On Oct. 15, Guest sent a group email to multiple Colorado Springs organizations announcing some of the store’s holiday season preparations.

Tattered Cover bookstore will close Colorado Springs location amid bankruptcy filing

On Wednesday, after receiving the news that her shop would be closed in less than a week, Guest sent a second email.

“It appears I spoke too soon,” she wrote. “This morning it was announced that our store would be closing as part of a reorganization of the company. Unfortunately that means our last day of business will be this Saturday, October 21st.”

At a glance, it appeared to be business as usual at the bookstore. One had to look closely at the front door to read the small sign that read, “STORE CLOSING 8 pm October 21st.”

Inside, customers quietly roamed the aisles. At least two shoppers, who said they were from out of town, had no idea that the store was in its final hour of operation.

But Sydney Roberts altered her evening plans to include one last stop at the downtown Tattered Cover.

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“I wasn’t planning to come here tonight,” Roberts said. “But I definitely had to come and buy one more book before it closes. I really enjoyed this store. It’s part of a chain, but it has a local feel to it.”

Azariah Williams, 18, wasn’t planning to buy a book. But he also wasn’t planning to leave the store until the clock struck 8 p.m.

“I’m really sad,” said Williams, who spent several hours a week at the store. “This is such a good store. There are so many options here. Plus, I like the hot chocolate (from the café).”

Turner Black, another regular patron, said she also planned to hang around the store until it closed its doors for the last time.

“This is one of my favorite spots,” Black said. “I thought this store was doing well, but apparently not well enough. It makes me sad.”

When she heard the news on Wednesday, Guest’s primary concern was for the seven members of her team who would soon be out of a job, just weeks before the holiday season begins. (The closures, officially set to begin Monday, will impact 27 of the bookstore chain’s 103 current staff positions, officials said in a news release.)

In her group email, she asked local organizations who were looking for staff help to consider hiring members of her staff.

“If you have any current openings, please let me know so that I may share with the rest of them,” she wrote. “I would vouch for every single person currently on my team and am certain they will be an asset anywhere they go.”

At 7:45 p.m. on Saturday, a staff member gave the “last call,” indicating the store would close in 15 minutes. Customers slowly began to trickle out, until only Williams and Black were left.

Tattered Cover’s Colorado Springs location set to open

Finally, 8 p.m. came, and the final two customers left. Williams, who was holding a printed copy of the Tattered Cover’s closing announcement, paused and turned around.

“I just want to look at (the store) one last time,” he said.

And with that, a bookstore that opened in June 2022 — to much anticipation and fanfare — closed its doors for the final time.

Like the rest of the Tattered Cover’s downtown staff, Guest declined The Gazette’s request for comment. But as the last customers bade her farewell, she said, “Thank you,” and began to cry.