Business & Tech
Owner of Subterranean Books Weighs Her Options
The store won't be closing on Sept. 1, but a relocation is possible.
In February, owner Kelly von Plonski announced that if she didn't see an increase in sales, by Sept. 1 due to the high rent she is paying at her Delmar location.
Fortunately, things have changed.
"No, we're not going to close," von Plonski said. "Our sales have gone up steadily from February to June."
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She remains skeptical of any changes, though.
"I'm still not convinced they're sustained, but we're not going to close unless something drastically changes," von Plonski said.
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In February, von Plonski also posted an online survey to ask customers what they would like to see at her store.
"We got lots of input," she said.
One of the additions to the store's schedules that came about due to the survey is their emerging writers series, which takes place on the first Wednesday of each month.
"There were quite a few people who wanted a venue for new writers," she said.
One major idea von Plonski is considering is a relocation.
"We're looking at both Maplewood and South Grand," she said.
She doesn't have an idea of when that would take place, but she said it won't be for at least a few months.
"I would want to give my landlord a few months' notice," von Plonski said. "I'm just weighing my options right now."
For the time being, she is looking forward to two upcoming in-store appearances. Noir fiction writer Donald Ray Pollock, "a favorite of Chuck Palahniuk," according to von Plonski, will be at Subterranean on July 20 to sign his new book, "The Devil All the Time." Rikki Ducornet, a guest lecturer at Washington University, will be in the store on June 17 to read and sign her latest novel, "Netsuke."
Von Plonski is also enjoying the activities that are being put on by the St. Louis Independent Bookstore Alliance, of which she is a founding member.
"We have some projects in the pipes," she said.
The next event is a "Literary Speed Dating" night at The Royale on June 12. She says all of the women's tickets have been sold out, but there are still a few spots for men.