This time, in the cours Mirabeau:
the long-established book-shop La Librarie de Provence is set to close after 84 years. What sad news and a sign of the times. 
Serge Eyrolles, president of the group which owns it told La Provence that rental charges have increased year after year, and proved too much for a business which relies on slender margins. He also said that there was too little passing trade: shoppers have changed their preferences, especially with centre ville being disrupted by the ‘travaux’. They prefer FNAC which is next to an underground car-park, and Cultura at Plan de Campagne. Or of course the internet.
In ten years, their balance sheet has fallen by 30%, from 4,5m to 3,2m euros. So far, despite various negotiations, there is no new owner for the 800m2 shop. It will close in 31st March 2019 with the loss of 21 jobs, the third bookshop in Aix to close in 5 years.
Sad news indeed.
aixcentric 
Truly sad!
So sad.
That is very sad news. We must do more to keep our businesses here in Aix alive and well. Personally,
I make the conscious decision to pay a few dollars more to keep Aix en Provence alive and well. It’s so easy
to go with Amazon for example and not realizing that these shops employ people and support families.
I am so sorry to hear this. Please keep
Book in Bar healthy.
Reblogged this on theAIXpatAIXperience.
I’m so sorry to hear of this closing, too. I hope the property owners don’t do what they’ve done in New York City and price out thousands of shops and restaurants to leave entire —once thriving neighborhoods — vacant.
It does seem that could be happening, ever-increasing rents being cited. Sad.
Totally agree!