White Rabbit Bookstore in the Hue Closes for Good

CtrlBurn
12/01 07:58 PM

Just seemed like too much of a niche store to last.  It was the right location for that niche, but that obviously wasn’t enough.  I would like to see some new shops that I would frequent on that strip, though.  I get the feeling that The Hugh is charging way too much for that space, just as they’re doing with the residential units.

Micah
12/01 09:00 PM

The Hue incarnation of White Rabbit had little chance of being successful, with or without other retail neighbors.  They had a bunch of rainbow-themed stuff, some greeting cards, some tee-shirts, some club music CD’s, and lube.  The store was ugly, harshly lit and you felt like you were on display to the street when you were in there. 12 years ago they had tons of porn, video sales and rentals (porn and other), sex toys, BOOKS and a lot more stuff I really can’t remember.  Their old space had character and just felt interesting to visit.

RaleighRob
12/02 10:25 AM

@ CtrlBurn - it lasted in that ‘niche’ for 20-some years. 

But times do change.  These days even regular bookstores struggle (online competition being the main hurdle).  And LGBT bookstores struggle more so because even mainstream bookstores now carry LGBT-stuff. 

I think if they had done like B&N and added a coffee house/cafe, wifi, and such, that would’ve helped a lot. Also, I agree with Micah, the old space was better suited style-wise for their type of store, even if the owners thought the Hue’s location was better.

Ryan
12/02 11:01 AM

Cafe & Sex toys..that would have been perfect! Grab a latte and some anal beads to go.

arthurb3
12/02 11:03 PM

They were over on Martin Street for about 15 years.

Bill M
12/03 12:58 PM

The property owners were stupid to let them fail when the rest of the spaces are still vacant.  They should have given them free, or reduced rent for a year.  As it is, that property looks like it is cursed.

Micah
12/03 03:34 PM

Bill, I am making a comment completely based on zero actual fact or even any rumors, but I would be willing to wager that White Rabbit at Hue would have failed even if they had no rent to pay.  They couldn’t have made enough money with their meager offerings and no customers to even pay the overhead expenses OTHER than rent.

Bill M
12/03 03:54 PM

I’m just assuming that because they survived for 15 years just a few blocks away their business plan wasn’t a completely terrible idea.  But it does look terrible for The Hue to have a business survive for 15 years, move from two blocks away and then fail in that building.

Micah
12/04 01:39 AM

That’s the thing, they didn’t have the same stuff they had at the old location.  It wasn’t really the same place.

whoknowswhatinRaleigh
12/04 10:44 AM

Since York Properties owns the Hue retail space do you think WR left because of the recent GLBT kissing flap at CV?  Or, were they told to leave the premises?

Micah
12/04 03:59 PM

Ummm, if you READ the article, you will see that they neither left due to a lesbian kiss at CV, nor were they asked to leave.  What a ridiculous comment.

bob
12/13 10:27 PM

Darn homos.

bob
12/13 10:28 PM

homosapiens, that is.

V Bryan
12/20 01:00 AM

The Hue version of the White Rabbit store was a stripped down version of the original. Looking from the outside, the store wasn’t in the least bit appealing to enter. If you did manage to mosey on in, it was a sea (or pond, rather) of disappointment - a barely stocked store with over priced merchandise. Unfortunate, very unfortunate.