Commonplace Books in Fort Worth and The Blind Pig in Paris have closed their doors, permanently, as a result of COVID-19.

Commonplace Books sent an email to their newsletter list last week, announcing the closure.

“First, we’d like to say a great big THANK YOU for your support, your graciousness, and your presence in and towards Commonplace Books Fort Worth. It has been our privilege and joy to walk through the last year with you, celebrating birthdays, marriages, and moves, and sitting with you in moments of hardship, grief, and growing pains. From having your littles at our Saturday morning story times to sharing a quiet glass of wine with you on winter evenings, this shop has been everything we’ve hoped for and more. We’ve always said this is your bookstore, and that is evident by the culture you’ve created in our four little walls and beyond in the Fort Worth community. Thank you. 

When we opened this store in June 2019, we did so with the understanding that this shop was a one-year pop up experiment. With our parent shop being in Oklahoma City, we wanted to test the waters in a new state, in a new city, with a new family; and it’s been truly so wonderful. Yet, in light of the recent crisis of the world and the instability of small businesses and retail like ours, we feel it best to close our Fort Worth outpost and continue our efforts in Oklahoma City.” 

The Blind Pig, a bookstore, wine bar, and cafe in Paris, has closed after being in business for a little over a year. In late March, after restaurants and bars were barred from offering dine-in service due to the coronavirus pandemic, owner Cristy Burns and manager Chris Meek decided to close temporarily until restrictions were lifted. Although the store is now able to reopen at 50% capacity, Burns realized it would not be enough to recover from the financial toll of being closed for so long, and she decided to close the store.

Burns said the Blind Pig could be considered a "casualty of Covid-19," and as a business barely over a year old, she did not have money in reserve to cover operating expenses. “It is sad and very unfortunate," lamented Burns. "We were a destination. A place to gather and have fun. We served food but people came for the atmosphere."

The store briefly reopened for a going-out-of-business sale, with most of the store's inventory being purchased by Remember When Collectibles, a locally owned vintage store located nearby. Burns added that on moving day, the store's regular customers came out and helped her fill the U-Haul free of charge.

"That's how loved the Pig was," she continued. "I still have the dream. My heart goes out to all small business owners. But the Pig made its mark on Paris, Texas, and I think it will not soon be forgotten. And that makes me happy."