SHELBURNE FALLS — After more than 11 years as a community staple, Shelburne Falls Booksellers is closing its doors for good.
Co-owner Mike Muilenberg, who lives in South Deerfield, said he plans to move to New York with his wife. The store’s final hours will be Sunday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Muilenberg and business partner Dick Floyd opened the store in August 2011 on Bridge Street, across from its current location at 1 Deerfield Ave. After flooding from Hurricane Irene destroyed more than two-thirds of their inventory, the bookstore changed locations.
Since then, Muilenberg and Floyd, as well as Kathleen Pew, who rented space and worked in the shop up until last year, have sold a collection of rare and popular books, as well as art and antiques.
“We’ve really enjoyed the shop,” Muilenberg said. “We joke around not to build a retirement income on it, but it’s very good for mental health.”
Muilenberg will take his portion of the inventory with him to Ithaca, N.Y., where he hopes to open a new book shop and continue selling books online. Floyd, he said, plans to bring his portion of the inventory to a new antique shop expected to open this spring in the location of the former Mohawk Trading Post.
After being in business together for over a decade, neither can imagine owning a business without the other, Muilenberg said, acknowledging his own plans to do so in New York.
“It’s not going to be the same with anybody other than Dick,” he said.
Shelburne Falls Booksellers is open Friday to Sunday this week, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
“We really enjoyed Shelburne Falls,” Muilenberg said. “Leaving the community is sad.”
Mary Byrne can be reached at mbyrne@recorder.com or 413-930-4429. Twitter: @MaryEByrne