Just a few months ago, in our salute to LGBT bookstores, we toasted Atlanta’s OutWrite Books and mentioned how its owners were going to have to close its current location in exchange for one with cheaper rent.
Well, it happened: Tuesday night, the 15-year-old landmark at the corner of 10th Street and Piedmont held its “Last Tango,” with longtime customers and celebrated queer authors celebrating the shop’s storied history.
But there’s no word on a new location.
On Wednesday, the Georgia Voice reported:
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Owner Philip Rafshoon confirmed the store is closing at its 10th and Piedmont location today. He said he could not say much more at this point. He said at the “Last Tango” event Tuesday night that there is no new location picked out yet. The store is open today and selling all of its infrastructure, including bookshelves, tables and chairs.
The Atlanta City Council presented Rafshoon with a proclamation crediting the store for its service to the community. Below is a clip of Rafshoon thanking customers, neighbors and friends for their support over the years.
We hope OutWrite rises again, bigger and better.
Photos: Philip Rafshoon
Hephaestion
Wow. Philip Rafshoon is my hero. He created the best place imaginable for the gay community of Atlanta to gather, to share, to support one another, to learn, to come to grips with being gay, to celebrate being gay, and to see some of the most amazing writers live and up close. I never once went into Outwrite without being made to feel welcome, and that’s amazing. Outwrite was truly the heartbeat of Gay Atlanta. I have always considered it to be the best gay bookstore on earth. Amazon.com and ebooks are killing bookstores everywhere, yet I can’t help but pray that the amazing Mr Rafshoon finds a way to resurrect the spirit of Outwrite somewhere, somehow, some day. In any event, thank you from the bottom of my heart, to Phillip Rafshoon and all the great Outwrite crew past & present!
geoff
@Hephaestion: On the other hand, there are some of us that wonder what ever happened to all of the money that the amazing Mr. Rafshoon took in at the “fundraisers” that were supposed to keep Outwrite open. And I am sure that since GA Voice reported it, it must be true that Mr. Rafshoon is selling off “infrastructure, including bookshelves, table and chairs.” And since GA voice also reported that Mr. Rafshoon would be opening at another location, one wonders how he will do this with no bookshelves, tables and chairs. Maybe he has a lot of money with which to redecorate. Just wondering.
Chris Ritter
Outwrite is indeed a loss to the LGBTQ community in Atlanta. The internet is no replacement for real people & real atmosphere. I loved Outwrite both when I lived in Charlotte & Atlanta.
The community has lost a landmark!