Owner of Subterranean Books Weighs Her Options

The store won't be closing on Sept. 1, but a relocation is possible.

In February, Subterranean Books owner Kelly von Plonski announced that if she didn't see an increase in sales, her store would have to close 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." 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. 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 …

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Subterranean Books Hosts UCHS Rock and Read Event

The event raises money for a freshman summer reading program.

On Friday afternoon, University City High School students began a "Rock and Read" event at Subterranean Books to raise money for a summer freshman reading program. Subterranean owner Kelly von Plonski said she first heard of the idea when she read about another store doing it elsewhere in the United States. She then contacted UCHS English teacher Caroline Hackmeyer, who started planning the event in early March. "Kelly from Subterranean contacted me with the idea around the same time that [UCHS] assistant principal Dayle Burgdorf asked me about doing a summer freshman reading project, so things came together relatively quickly," Hackmeyer said. During the event, UCHS students sat in rocking chairs in Subterranean's storefront window and …

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Shelf Talk

Recommended Reads: A Widow's Tale; A Portrait of Mickey Mantle and a History of Harlem

Rob Levy works at Subterranean Books and each month recommends 5 books for University City readers.

A survey of interesting titles, must reads and best sellers from Subterranean Books, University’s City’s only neighborhood bookstore.     

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Owner of Subterranean Books Details the Store's Uphill Battle to Stay Open

Kelly von Plonski, owner of Subterranean Books has posted a letter on the store's website addressing its bleak financial situation.

So, yes we are struggling.  2010 was a very difficult year, a shell game of sorts in order to get bills paid.  And there just was not enough money to pay everything.  This is not sustainable. Sales were up in December and I thought maybe the tide had turned.  But then January arrived and we were down 25%.  If our sales for this January through June do not at least equal 2010’s January through June we will close.  If we don’t reach at least that level of income there is simply not enough money coming in to keep our doors open. The three major expenses in a book store are rent, payroll and inventory.  We aren’t bloated in the staffing department so there’s nothing there we can cut.  Our inventory is not top-loaded, meaning we don’t buy …

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Myra Lopez

12:41 pm on Monday, February 28, 2011

Michelle, thanks for the update about the grocery store. I've been asked about it, so glad for the info.   more ›

Daily PatchCast: St. Peters Borders Store to Close, County to Review Driveway Paperwork After Clayton Meeting and More

A roundup of the region's major developments for Wednesday

Here are the top stories from Patch sites in your area: St. Peters Borders Location Slated to Close Driveway Concerns Prompt County Council to Hold on Records at Meeting in Clayton The Influenza Season Has Officially Returned Chamber Hears About Library's Services for Businesses Hazelwood West Wildcats Midweek Sports Roundup

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Shelf Talkers

A survey of interesting titles, must reads and best sellers from Subterranean Books, University City’s only neighborhood bookstore.

True Grit-Charles Portis Portis’ 1968 novel has undergone a rebirth of sorts thanks to a new Oscar nominated adaptation from the Coen Brothers.  The movie has certainly revived interest in the book, which went to #1 on New York Times Best Seller chart last month. Make no bones about it, the book is different from both of its cinematic incarnations. The plot is told in hindsight from 1928 by a spinster named Mattie Ross who recounts how she and two other men set out to avenge the killer of her father. What makes Portis’ book so great is that he doesn’t hide the motivations of any of his characters. Although, technically a Western in genre, the book lays out its characters and their desires in a way that is similar to contemporary suspense …

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