Jacob Smith is show at the front desk at John W. Doull Bookseller in Dartmouth on Tuesday. The used book store is set to close on Friday. Photo by Tim Krochak /THE CHRONICLE HERALDArticle contentJohn Doull’s nearly 40-year run as an independent book seller appears to be coming to an end.THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY.Subscribe now to access this story and more:Unlimited access to the website and appExclusive access to premium content, newsletters and podcastsFull access to the e-Edition app, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment onEnjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalistsSupport local journalists and the next generation of journalistsSUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES.Subscribe or sign in to your account to continue your reading experience.Unlimited access to the website and appExclusive access to premium content, newsletters and podcastsFull access to the e-Edition app, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment onEnjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalistsSupport local journalists and the next generation of journalistsRegister to unlock more articles.Create an account or sign in to continue your reading experience.Access additional stories every monthShare your thoughts and join the conversation in our commenting communityGet email updates from your favourite authorsSign In or Create an AccountorArticle contentThe store on Main Street in Dartmouth will shut down Friday, Jacob Smith, a staff member, said Tuesday.Article contentArticle contentNews of the store’s impending closure drew dozens of curious customers, who weaved their way through the shelves, boxes and stacks of books, magazines and framed photos, looking to score a discounted find.Article contentArticle contentThe John W. Doull Bookseller website states that it offers an inventory of hard-to-find, out-of-print, used and rare books among its over 60,000 titles.Article content A customer walks into John W. Doull Bookseller in Dartmouth on Tuesday. Photo by Tim Krochak /THE CHRONICLE HERALDArticle contentSmith said the business is behind in rent payments. A request for an interview with Doull, the store’s owner since its inception in 1987, was not returned.Article contentDavid Jones, a longtime customer, fondly recalled the first time he stepped into the store.Article content“I first came to this bookstore when it was on Barrington Street in Halifax,” said Jones, who was among the many customers on Tuesday in search of another rare find. “I was just walking by one day and it was like stepping into a Harry Potter world. It was amazing.”Article contentDoull moved the bookstore to Dartmouth in 2013 from the Barrington Street location.Article contentJones, known for his love of history, immediately took to his Instagram account – Dartmouth History Blog – to alert people of the store’s fate.Article contentArticle content“Yesterday, I learned on Instagram and Facebook from Halifax ReTales that they are going out of business on Friday, so I came to buy some books and found out that they are behind in rent and they have until Friday to pay or it will close.Article content“I have an Instagram account, so I shared that news yesterday and as of now, 16,000 people have seen my post. It’s nice to see the driveway full of cars and people coming here.Article content“I think a lot of people are coming here for the first time and hopefully there will be more times for them to come.”Article content A customer leaves after purchasing an armful of books at John W. Doull Bookseller in Dartmouth on Tuesday. Photo by Tim Krochak /THE CHRONICLE HERALDArticle contentBook buyers on Tuesday ranged from young children to seniors.Article content“What’s amazing today is, I am seeing people of all ages, little kids here with their parents checking out books,” Jones said. “I think that is really nice and it shows how much books mean to people.”Article contentJones said he heads to the history section when he first enters the store but added that you never know what you might find amid the chaos of thousands of books.
Well-known Dartmouth book store to close: It was like stepping into a Harry Potter world
