What's a good read?
I miss going to the Fully Booked Regis Center branch in Katipunan. Besides being nearest to my house, the store is just the right size. I get overwhelmed by big stores. I would spend hours going through all the books. Only to check out with just one, or on most days, with nothing but the satisfaction of browsing.
Fully Booked started its first branch in Rockwell in 2003 and has grown to 30 locations across the country. Known for its wide variety of books under every interest, it has become a haven for readers of every age.
Fully Booked has grown to include one-of-a-kind items to fit the needs of its readers. It is the store for high-quality stationery, arts & crafts, novelty notebooks, vinyl records, and other collectibles that are as distinctive as their customers.
Before everybody gets teary-eyed emotional, only three branches are closing their doors permanently.
Fully Booked Closes 3 Stores Forever
Fully Booked announced the three closures through a Facebook post, stating that the Torre Lorenzo location closed on January 12, the Century City Mall location closed today, January 13, and the Ayala Malls Vertis North location would close on February 1. They are hoping to see customers from these three branches at their other locations. They also announced that the store at S Maison in Pasay City would be temporarily closed indefinitely.
The lifetime of a retail store includes the closure of a branch. Still, we can’t help but think about the employees losing their jobs and the customers they’ll leave behind. The pandemic has hit many businesses. Low foot traffic is a valid justification for a branch’s closure. If one store fails, it is time to move on to the next.
Fully Booked had long been seen as a cultural institution, and the closure of its branches may represent an unmistakable shift in how we consume media. People have had to say their goodbyes to loved ones, transition to home workplaces, and watch from afar as their favorite shops close their doors for the last time during the present pandemic. But bookstores aren’t going anywhere. Many acquire books to relieve our suffering.
And yes, Fully Booked is also available online. So, long live.
