Three Story Tellers Bookstore in Occoquan To Close

After three years in business in Occoquan,  bookstore will close its doors permanently on June 29. The closing was preceded by two weeks of discounts on their entire merchandise. The sale is still going.

The bookstore specialized in award-winning and culturally diverse literature for children and teenagers and featured books by local authors and illustrators.  Educational games, toys and puzzles rounded out their stock.

Established in 2008 on Poplar Alley by friends Kendall Holbrook, Carmen Lofton, and Robin Phillips, Three Story Tellers moved to its present location at 304 Mill Street in 2009.

“Closing was a combination of time constraints—not being able to dedicate time to the store and the economy in general," said Phillips. "People aren’t buying books from small independent bookstores when they can get deeper discounts from large retailers. We also had limited exposure to clients in Occoquan. Part of the equation was the location.” 

Although revenues increased at the Mill Street locatoin, Holbrook said that it was difficult to juggle full-time careers with the demands of the bookstore. “Occoquan is a seasonal location,” she said, adding that Three Story Tellers’ business hours were limited to Friday through Monday. “We had tried being open on more days, but those days did not bring in additional revenues, especially when we had to pay an employee to be here. We didn’t break even."

Even an endorsement by Nickelodeon’s Parents Connect website failed to raise the store's profile. In 2009, the site designated Three Story Tellers as the best bookstore for children in the Washington, D.C. area.

Phillips said the women loved their years managing the bookstore.  “We are entrepreneurial spirits,” she said.

Some patrons expressed disappointment at the store’s closing. “It’s very sad, especially since they sell so many quality books,” said Nancy Michaels, White Oaks Elementary School librarian.

Three Story Tellers spoke to Lorraine Spates, who began working at the bookstore last summer. “Three Story Tellers feels like home.  I did the story hour and the crafts.  I learned to do so much more with my own children by researching activities for the store,” she said.

To accommodate stock liquidation, the Three Story Tellers’ business hours have been modified on the following days: June 28, 10:30 a.m. -6:30 p.m.; and June 29, 11 a.m.-5 p.m.

Customers are entitled to incremental savings based on their total purchase amount. A purchase of $10 or more earns a 10 percent discount, whereas a purchase of $150 or more receives a 50 percent discount. Spending $25, $50 or $75 warrants respective discounts of 20 percent, 30 percent and 40 percent.