- Title: Pandemic claims new victim. Iconic Mexico City bookshop reaches final chapter
- Date: 30th June 2020
- Summary: MEXICO CITY, MEXICO (JUNE 25, 2020) (REUTERS) CUSTOMERS IN LINE OUTSIDE BOOKSTORE 'A TRAVES DEL ESPEJO' ('THROUGH THE LOOKING GLASS') AS IT HAS A FINAL CLEARANCE OF BOOKS PEOPLE CHECKING BOOKS IN CLEARANCE SALE SIGN ON SHOP WINDOW THAT READS (Spanish) "KEEP YOUR DISTANCE. FACEMASKS OBLIGATORY. 25 MINUTES MAXIMUM" BOOKS ON FLOOR VARIOUS OF PEOPLE SHOPPING FOR BOOKS VARIOUS OF PEOPLE LINING UP OUTSIDE STORE EXTERIOR OF SHOP (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) BOOKSHOP MANAGER, LEON FELIPE EGUIA, SAYING: "Approximately 120,000 volumes (of books). And there are gifts for people who are taking the book. We are trying so that the books stay in the best hands, for people who love them." PEOPLE AT COUNTER SIGN AT BOOKSHOP THAT READS (English) "PLEASE LEAVE YOUR PACKAGES AND BAGS IN PARCEL" SHOPPER CARRYING BOOKS SHOPPERS OUTSIDE STORE WITH BOOKS (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) BOOKSHOP MANAGER, LEON FELIPE EGUIA, SAYING: "The majority of people are leaving satisfied, they are helping a lot. Unfortunately it does mean the loss of a bookshop, (prices at) 50%. This is a tragedy." SHOPPERS NEAR SHELF WHERE BOOKS ARE 50% OFF VARIOUS OF SHOPPERS CHECKING SHELVES (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) SHOPPER, DIEGO JIMENEZ, SAYING: "It's a great job what they're doing (reference to management at bookshop), but it shouldn't have reached this extreme. I think the government should have provided more support to this type of establishment, so that they don't have to discount their books." VARIOUS OF SHOPPERS CHECKING BOOKS
- Embargoed: 14th July 2020 02:18
- Keywords: Mexico Mexico City bookshop close coronavirus lockdown pandemic quarantine
- Location: MEXICO CITY, MEXICO
- City: MEXICO CITY, MEXICO
- Country: Mexico
- Reuters ID: LVA001CKK92DJ
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Coronavirus has claimed its latest victim. An iconic Mexico City bookshop famous in the capital's literary circles and a central pillar of the trendy Roma neighbourhood is closing its doors.
'A Traves Del Espejo', or 'Through The Looking Glass' in English, is named after the Lewis Carroll class. In Carroll's tale, Alice peers through a mirror into another world where logic has been turned upside down. For this bookstore's many fans, its name is stark metaphor for a world struggling through quarantine.
For the last 22 years, this bookstore has shifted over 120,000 books and has secured a reputation for its speciality in rare investigative works and the classics. But this was not enough to sustain the financial pressures of a small businesses forced into lockdown to stem the tide of coronavirus cases.
Now in the run up to its finale, this bookshop's owner hopes the thousands of stories that remain on shelves can find a new home. The end.
(Production: Josue Gonzalez, Rodolfo Pena Roja, Paul Vieira) - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
- Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2020. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
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