The Laredo B. Dalton

Bad news at Black Rock, book fans. According to this report in the Associated Press, “The final chapter has been written for the lone bookstore on the streets of Laredo. With a population of nearly a quarter-million people, this city could soon be the largest in the nation without a single bookseller.”

The B. Dalton, owned by Barnes & Noble, is closing up its Laredo shop. Located in a mall, sandwiched between City Trendz (“Laredo’s No. 1 Underground Hip Hop Shop”) and a store that offers $4 indoor go-kart rides, it’s not exactly the espresso lover’s hangout. But the town people are very motivated to keep it.

According to the AP the, “situation is so grim that schoolchildren have pleaded for a reprieve,” even writing letters to B&N HQ begging for the store to stay open. “‘Without that store, my life would be so sad and boring,’ wrote a fifth-grader named Bryanna Salinas, who signed her name with a heart,” according to the AP.

People are flocking to the small store to stock up on titles. After the closing, the nearest store will be 150 miles away in San Antonio.

The closing is part of B&N’s greater roll-up of 49 B. Dalton stores nationwide. They’re packing up their six-shooter and goin’ home.