Folio Books in Noe Valley is expected to close on February 29th after ten years of serving as a literary touchstone on 24th Street.
San Francisco is a bastion for bibliophiles — a city punctuated by nationally-renowned, independently-owned bookstores, many of which are owned and operated by queer folk. Since 2014, Folio Books, the quaint and charming bookstore at 3957 24th Street in San Francisco’s Noe Valley neighborhood, has counted itself among them.
But fans of the woman and queer-owned bookstore found themselves collectively reeling when the Instagram account, which is handled by the store’s five co-owners, announced the store would be abruptly closing; the decision “was an intensely personal one for all five co-owners.”
“We hope you will respect our privacy during this difficult time as we and our staff say goodbye to what has been our home away from home for the past 10 years,” the statement reads on the Meta-owned social media website, choosing to remain vague and opaque on the specific reasons for the closing (which, on the surface, doesn’t seem to be financially motivated). “While we may not be able to answer every question, please come laugh with us, cry with us, and share your memories.”
Folio said that the mission from the very first day of operation was to make the space a “welcoming and warm place for anyone who entered, and we are beyond grateful for our patrons and community members who have responded in kind.” And based on the comments left on the post, which ranged from typed despondency and expressed gratitude to somber farewells and revisited memories at the store, the quintet of female owners achieved just that.
“We know Noe Valley will continue to be a place for collaboration and friendship,” reads the statement in closing.
Folio Books closing comes after The Green Arcade shuttered in July 2023 after 15 years in business — just a few months after Alexander Book Company and The Magazine closed their doors, respectively, after years in business.
Though Folio Book’s announcement is devastating, San Francisco remains a celebrated, book-loving city. Let this, too, be a reminder to shop local; shop independently; buy all the books, and read all the things.
Feature image: Courtesy of Angela L. via Yelp
I have always liked Noe Valley yet it is difficult to maintain and make a profit in this area for many. It takes more than cool people who are gay and dedicated to their business a success.