Monaco's only independent bookshop La Bookinerie to close
By Zak Jackson, MonacoViews Editorial
La Bookinerie, Monaco's sole independent bookshop, will shut its doors at the end of October after just over a year in business, citing economic difficulties.
La Bookinerie, the only independent bookshop in the Principality, announced on Tuesday that it will close at the end of October, a little more than a year after opening with considerable fanfare. The shop's managers cited economic difficulties as the reason behind the decision, without elaborating further on the specific financial pressures involved.
The closure marks the end of a short-lived attempt to establish an independent literary presence in Monaco, a market dominated by larger retail chains and online booksellers. For residents who valued having a local, independently run bookshop as an alternative to buying from major online platforms, the loss leaves a gap in the Principality's cultural offering.
No further details have been given about what will replace La Bookinerie or whether any similar venture might follow. The announcement has prompted renewed discussion locally about the challenges facing small independent retailers trying to operate in Monaco's high-cost commercial property market.