What a success story.
The “last used bookstore on the Upper West Side” was saved from shuttering thanks to an online fundraiser that collected over $50,000 in four days — and they’ve been crazy busy ever since, the owner said Tuesday.
“We’ve had a lot of activity,” said Dorian Thornley, who’s owned Westsider Rare & Used Books since 2002.
“Today a lot of people showed up, donating books, saying congratulations, popping in,” said Thornley, 50. “A lot of people before noon, which we certainly weren’t expecting.”
Just last week, Thornley was convinced that he’d have to finish the chapter and liquidate his stock amid slumping sales.
But when he heard that a GoFundMe set up on behalf of the bibliophiles’ paradise surpassed its goal Sunday afternoon, he was overjoyed — texting one of his employees: “PARTY!!!”
Since then, the store has been bustling, “on par with successful holiday seasons,” said Thornley.
The Upper West Sider who launched the fundraiser, Bobby Panza, 33, said he was “beside myself” and “overcome with joy” at having been able to save the beloved bookstore from certain doom.
“Sometimes you don’t realize how important something is to you until it’s on the precipice of disaster,” Panza told The Post, adding that 780 people had donated.
“The community came together, it warms my heart,” said Panza.
The store — which opened at 2246 Broadway 35 years ago — is “safe” for now, Thornley said, adding he’s hoping to renew the lease when it’s up in June.
The GoFundMe is still active and was up to $52,631 as of Tuesday.