Dutton's Brentwood to Close

My Monday morning inbox was packed with news of Dutton's Brentwood's closing on April 30. The Elegant Variation has suggested a customer-supported bail out, ala Kepler's Books in Menlo Park. Ron Hogan, writing at Galley Cat has a very nice eulogy, which is fitting, since he got his start in the book business at Dutton's. Dutton's is one of the few independent bookstores in Los Angeles that I haven't worked at, but as anyone who's worked in the book business here in LA can attest, we all know each other. You can't work in this business without bumping into folks from the other stores at author dinners, the LA Times Festival of Books, or other events. When I worked at Book Soup, if we didn't have a book, Dutton's was the first place I recommended the customer try. Doug Dutton, owner of the store, left the door open to reopening in either the same or a new location. Here's hoping that happens soon.