北京豆瓣书店将闭店：坚持近20年，曾有4家门店

Core Viewpoint - Douban Bookstore, a niche cultural bookstore in Beijing, announced its closure after 19 years of operation, starting a clearance sale on September 20, with plans to officially close by May next year when the lease expires [1][10]. Company Overview - Douban Bookstore was established in 2006, located in Haidian District, Beijing, near major universities like Tsinghua University and Peking University [3]. - The bookstore covers approximately 60 square meters and is known for its unique selection of inventory books, second-hand books, and a few signed editions, offering affordable prices and a friendly atmosphere [5]. Business Model and Operations - The bookstore primarily focused on selling inventory and second-hand books at discounted prices, typically between 30% to 60% off retail [5][8]. - The founders, Qing Song and Deng Yuhong, previously worked at a well-known bookstore and expanded Douban Bookstore to four locations across China, including cities like Wuhan and Chengdu [5]. - The store operated daily from 9:00 AM to 9:00 PM, catering to students and encouraging browsing by allowing customers to unwrap books without obligation to purchase [5]. Challenges and Transition - In recent years, especially post-pandemic, the bookstore faced increasing pressure from the rise of online book sales and live-streaming sales, which significantly impacted its revenue model [8]. - The founders began to consider closing the store due to the financial strain, with the realization that their traditional business model had limited profitability [8][9]. Future Plans - Following the closure, Qing Song plans to continue his work in animation and book design, while Deng Yuhong intends to take a break [10].