The Southland institution is a lifeline for readers and so much more.
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"Unfortunately with the shutdowns and the restrictions, our sales are down 40%, and we can't survive with 40% of normal sales," said Joel Vroman Sheldon, owner of Vroman's.
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Vroman's has been in Sheldon's family for over 100 years. The story now - it wasn't allowed to sell a thing during the first six weeks of the pandemic. Books are not "essential," said the city of Pasadena.
To Sheldon, that's heresy.
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"It is an institution that changes people's lives. You can literally find life-changing books on our shelves," Sheldon said.
So is Vroman's doomed to extinction? Sheldon says no - if shoppers start their holiday gift shopping in October -there will be more space and time for the limited number of customers to come through.
Watch Miriam Hernandez's report above for details.
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