Nineteen years ago, READ Books opened in Eagle Rock, and ever since, the snug 680-square-foot space has been an ideal place to discover a book on its heaving shelves — or to greet the 17-year-old shop dog, Florence.
But that’s about to change.
On Feb. 21, the store’s owners, Jeremy and Debbie Kaplan, posted a message on social media that said they’d been informed the building had been sold, and that their rent was going to be raised 133%, from $1,200 to $2,805 a month.
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They needed to decide in about two weeks, or they’d need to be out in 30 days, says Kaplan during a conversation last weekend at the store, which was full of bike-helmeted kids and book-hungry adults perusing the shelves.
“We panicked, like, What the hell are we going to do with all these books? ‘” says Kaplan, who says he thought they were trying to intimidate the couple. “Because they also said they wanted a 3-5-year lease.”
Once the shock wore off, he said they started to make plans. “Our next response was: Let’s find out what our rights are.”
From a fellow local business owner, Kaplan says they learned that a bill called SB 1103 requires that small business owners receive 90 days’ notice following a proposed rent increase of more than 10%. They filled out the required form and included it with their rent check.
And then they waited.
“On March 1, another guy comes in, drops down a letter,” he says. “We’ve got our 90-day notice.”
It felt good. “When you win a little battle, though, it gives you courage.”
But he says that he has only bought the store some time. “We still need to find a place,” says Kaplan,
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After reaching out to local community groups and political representatives, Kaplan says the bookstore is not alone. He’s put together a map with information about other small businesses he says are in similar situations, and he drafted a petition entitled, “Stop Displacement in Eagle Rock: Protect Our Small Businesses Now,” that looks to stabilize rents, establish good faith negotiations, comply with SB 1103 regulations and commit to community preservation.
As well, he has joined with others to create Support North East Los Angeles Shops (SNELAS), a newly formed group of small businesses and local activists who have been meeting with local representatives.
Since first posting about the situation on social media, the bookstore has gotten attention from CBS News and LAist, and Kaplan says he plans to keep speaking out in hopes that it helps other people.
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And as for the Kaplans’ bookstore?
“I believe we’re going to find something. We’re resourceful and enough people are working to help us, but it’s going to be hard because the options are shrinking because of the actions of the landlords,” he says. “It’s unfortunate that having a small business has become like survival of the fittest.”
“I suspect we’ll survive,” he says. “But not everyone will. It’s going to be hard.”
The building’s owners were called for comment, but had not responded by publication.