Edinburgh's Beloved Bookshop Closes After 8 Years

0:00It's March 26th. This is Edinburgh News Today, powered by AI. I'm Cory with the story. A beloved independent bookshop in Edinburgh's Abbey Hill neighborhood is closing its doors after eight years. Citadel Books on Mantros Terrace, run by renowned poet Alan Spence and his wife Janani, will shut down on March 31st when the building's new. Owner takes over. The shop got its start back in 2017. After Spence retired from teaching creative writing at Aberdeen University at age 78, he had an office overflowing with books and began selling them to support a local meditation center. Eventually, turning it into a spot for second hand, fiction, poetry, meditation guides, and art titles. Locals and neighboring businesses have shared warm tributes, calling the shop a key part of the community's vibe. Owners of a nearby art invented store describe Spence and his wife as wonderful neighbors and friends, they'll miss dearly. Right now, the couple is racing to clear out around 2,000 books, with paperbacks going

1:01for just two pounds this weekend. Any leftovers will head to the homeless charity for a square, since the shop never aimed to turn a profit and just covered rent. Spence plans to keep writing and chatting with folks in local cafes, as the area continues to buzz as a cultural hotspot they've helped shape.