LEXINGTON, Ky. (LEX 18) — A beloved community bookstore is shutting its doors after five years on North Limestone in Lexington.
"It's not just a bookstore," said Tina Durbin.
Wild Fig Bookstore is a safe space for this community.
"I do believe that this space is sacred," said Sarah Williams, a co-owner of the bookstore.
It's a space with character, supported by brick walls, worn out couches, hand painted bookcases and local art.
"There are a lot of people in the community that are on my mind and on my heart about what happens to them when we leave this," said Williams.
Wild Fig will be closing its doors at the end of the month.
"And that's part of what we're going to discuss in this community meeting," said Williams.
Store owners invited people to ask questions about what's happening in the coming weeks.
"Support us while we're here, support us when we're not here," said Durbin.
Williams says struggles to pay high rent and disagreements with property owners are pushing them to relocate.
"We will ensure this space goes on beyond this physical location," said Williams.
This isn't the first time finances have left the bookstore's future in limbo.
In 2018, the store's original owners turned to sell the space, but a group of locals stepped up and turned Wild Fig into a work cooperative.
Now, they're looking at several options to keep their doors open in the long run at a different location.
"I understand the deep necessity of people being able to be fully seen and accepted, right and to have their needs met. And that is part of what makes this space so sacred and safe, is that we have many people who have been able to find that," said Williams.
