DuBois Book Store Closes Its Doors Permanently

With little explanation, the at 332 S. Lincoln St. closed its doors permanently Tuesday after 75 years in business selling books and textbooks across from .

An employee at the store confirmed the closing and said they were told Tuesday afternoon the store would close for good at 5 p.m.

A message posted at about 6:30 p.m. Tuesday on the store's Facebook page appeared to be the only public acknowledgement of the closing today. It read: "After almost 75 years of business, it has been an honor and a privilege to serve the students, faculty and staff of Kent State University and the community of Kent. Thank you for your patronage."

A recorded message that plays when calling the store states, "I'm sorry, we're closed." Its website no longer loads.

Members of the DuBois family did not respond to requests for comment.

Just last week a post on the store's Facebook page said DuBois would begin taking reservations for its Books-In-A-Flash program in mid-July for pick-up beginning Aug. 22.

Last month, DuBois won first place in the Best Bookstore category for the Fox 8 Akron-Canton Hot List. DuBois used its Twitter and Facebook pages to encourage fans to vote for the store.

The business was founded in 1936 when then Hiram College professor J. Harold DuBois began selling textbooks from his truck. The bookstore has remained in the family.

As recently as June 22, store employees posted on its Facebook page reminding students at Theodore Roosevelt High School they could buy the books on their summer reading list there.

The late Fred and Marilyn DuBois were posthumously honored by the Kent Area Chamber of Commerce in November with the W.W. Reed Kent Medal for Public Service, which is the chamber's highest award and was bestowed on the couple during its centennial year.

Look for updates to this story here on Kent Patch.