Article: Family-Owned Austin, Texas, Bookstore Closes after a Quarter-Century.(Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News)

Jan. 22--Austin will lose another of its unique retail establishments when Congress Avenue Booksellers closes its doors.

The last downtown bookstore and newsstand, the one downtown workers can walk to, will hold a final sale and close by the end of February. The business has been in one family -- the Cochrans -- since 1975.

"It's come to an end," said Eleanor Cochran, who has operated the store in recent years. The reason: changing times, a downtown with no place to park and rents rising all the time. Downtown business rental rates have nearly doubled in the past 10 years, from $13.02 a square foot in 1989 to $22.66 a square foot in 1999.

"I've ...

Related newspaper, magazine, and journal articles:

 
 
Newsweek Harper's Magazine The Washington Post Chicago Tribune Crain's Chicago Business PRNewswire Pediatric News The Nation Advertising Age The Economist (US) A FREE trial gives you access to over 80 million articles! Access over 6,500 publications with a FREE trial!