One of Harlem’s last surviving bookstores is closing its doors after 10 years on July 31st.

Hue-Man Bookstore & Cafe is located Frederick Douglass Blvd. near W. 125th St. Owner Marva Allen explains that she realized that her current business model could not be sustained in an era of e-books and digital delivery.

Allen plans to continue to sell the Hue-Man inventory online and looks forward to hosting events in the community and hopes to one day return with a new store.

Sister’s Uptown Bookstore & Cultural Center on Amsterdam Ave. near W. 156th St., Deja Vu Book Lounge on Lexington Ave. near E. 110th St. and the newly opened La Casa Azul Bookstore on E. 103rd St. near Lexington Ave. remain the only bookstores uptown. The volunteer-run Word Up Bookstore, initially opened as a temporary shop on Broadway near W. 175th St., was supposed to be around for only a month but has managed to stay open into its second year.

“We were in an obsolete model, and we’re interested in figuring out what the bookstore of the future looks like,” she added, sitting inside the shop that has hosted book signings for President Bill Clinton, author Terry McMillan and Bill Cosby. But she says “We’ll be back,…We’re working on being back.”

Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/uptown/harlem-hue-man-bookstore-close-doors-july-31-article-1.1106665#ixzz1zh5CkIoS