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# Not a very happy ending
- URL: https://www.smdp.com/not-a-very-happy-ending/
- Published: 2007-11-02T15:00:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-10-24T03:46:24.000Z
- Author: Melody Hanatani
- Tags: Business, Mid-City, #archive-import

*Ever-rising rents and chains forcing bookstores to close*

MID-CITY Richard Dolen squats in the corner of a small bookstore, perusing old copies as he seeks comfort from the cold weather outside.

“This bookstore has an interesting selection,” the Santa Monican said as he purchased a tome on dinosaurs and a Polish-English dictionary Thursday afternoon. Dolen then turned to clerk Sean Hathwell and began chatting, looking to say good-bye to store owner Leigh Peffer.

The 39-year-old fixture in Mid-City will soon turn the page, expected to close its doors at the end of the month — the most recent independent bookseller on the Westside to bid its loyal customers adieu.

For Wilshire Books, the culprit is a notice to vacate.

The scene inside Wilshire Books was calm and quiet on Thursday afternoon. Besides Dolen, the only other customer is Venice resident Matt Martin, who set himself up at the spiritual books section, boning up on Zen Buddhism while his dog, Duke, hung on his left shoulder, curiously surveying the scene.

*Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on November 2, 2007.* [Read the original PDF.](https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/smdp%5Fbackissues/110207.pdf?ref=smdp.com)