After repeated incidents of verbal and online abuse, the owners of a community bookstore in Old Town Monrovia — considered a safe space for BIPOC and LGBTQ+ groups — have announced they will be closing its doors in summer. That is, unless someone from the community is willing to step up.
Underdog Bookstore opened its doors on Myrtle Ave. exactly one year ago last April. Many community members say the bookstore is one of the few spaces centering LGBTQ+ authors and writers of color in the San Gabriel Valley. The store prides itself on being inclusive to all; hosting events, and curating by demographic and identity — with books from AAPI, Indigenous, LGBTQ+, Black authors, etc.
News of the closure was first announced online on March 29, where its owners wrote that the bookstore’s future is “uncertain…but we remain committed to the community.” They invited all supporters to a packed meeting at the store on April 1, where they shared plans to still run the store, currently open on weekends, until the end of June.
“We don’t want the San Gabriel Valley to become a book desert, and we know Monrovia needs more affirming places like Underdog. So we are open to ideas,” the owners wrote on Facebook.
Founder Thomas Murtland, who runs the store with husband Nathan Allen, said they are concerned about the physical safety of both staff and customers. Murtland said that since the brick-and-mortar first opened last April, its curated book selection — and being LGBT-owned — drew unexpected and frequent hate in the form of verbal comments. After an incident in February, Murtland and Allen tried to combat the hate by offering discounts on selected books.
“We ultimately came to the decision that what was best for us, the owners, was just to step back from being in the store and running it,” Murtland, 33, said after the meeting.
Last June and July, as Pride Month approached and more themed events were planned, Murtland said the hate only escalated.
“We started receiving frequent messages and comments… (people) would call the store owners pedophiles, groomers and other gross things,” he said. “And that was when we realized that we couldn’t do the bookstore forever. In this day and age, a business doesn’t stay in the building… We only signed up to sell books.”
Murtland said that “angry and irate people” would “often” come into the store to express their discontent with the diverse selection of books Underdog offered, saying things to “other” various communities. They attempted to debate with booksellers about “why diversity isn’t needed,” at times verbally or physically harassing them. They would send angry threats online to employees.
“We’ve had homophobic, transphobic and racist comments, and we’ve had comments that mix all of those in together,” Murtland said. “People in the last few months have been physically confronting and approaching our staff. We were surprised that those who disagreed with us would physically come into our space, and actively try to make it an unsafe space.”
But Murtland and Allen hope to find someone — or a group of people — aligned with their own values of diversity and inclusivity, who would be willing to take over the Myrtle Ave. lease and carry on the community-focused space.
“We know we plan to be open until at least the end of June, but after that we will be closing. We expressed that we are interested in working with someone or a group of people who are interested in maintaining a safe, inclusive space… but we don’t know what that looks like yet. We are open to ideas!” they wrote on Instagram.
Their lease still has a year left, owners say, and is “very low” compared to the current business leasing market.
The owners stressed that the decision to shut Underdog Bookstore’s doors wasn’t based on finances. It came as a response to the level of hate and homophobia both Murtland, Allen and other booksellers were receiving, along with personal matters.
“At the end of the day, we are individuals with real lives and other priorities,” said Murtland, “and as important as the bookstore is to us, we do have to prioritize ourselves.”
Monrovia resident and frequent customer Jordyn Tucker called the situation “unfair.” As a Black woman, she felt represented in the store’s curated selection and was always welcomed.
“The main reason I wanted to support Underdog is because I know there’s an underrepresentation, especially in Monrovia, of the LGBTQ+ community… It felt like a very inviting area, and I didn’t feel like I needed to feel ashamed for being who I am,” Tucker, 25, said. “It breaks my heart to know that (the owners) are going through everything, knowing how good the company and (its) employees are.”
Tucker said she worries for the future of other diverse businesses, given what happened at Underdog.
Monrovia resident Meredith Swierczynski, who helped plan a “banned books” holiday drive at Underdog with her nonprofit in 2023, said that a bookstore is essential. Underdog Bookstore is “the only thing that Monrovia was missing.”
“(It’s) unfair to the rest of us who see the value in the change and growth of our community. Our children and our community deserve to have a bookstore,” she said. “I love this town — but I gotta be honest, the closed-mindedness kind of makes me not want to stay here, because I want a community that welcomes all people.”
Resident Peter Listro said that upon hearing the news, he felt “disheartened” and “embarrassed to be a Monrovian.” He hopes this serves as a wake-up call to organize and create more inclusive, non-commercialized spaces.
“It’s a shame, especially because if you think of all of San Gabriel Valley, I can’t think of more than two or three spaces for that particular marginalized community,” Listro said. “I have friends who are people of color, who are also trans and gay. It’s hard enough for them to get through the day without someone else trying to tell them how they should be. To be able to give any marginalized community the ability to have a space that’s safe, where they can exhale, is a blessing.”
Los Angeles book-lovers and residents were also shocked earlier this year with the news of Vroman’s Bookstore, which opened in the late 1800s, being put up for sale. The iconic Pasadena landmark continues looking for new ownership at its flagship Colorado Boulevard site.
Octavia’s Bookshelf in Pasadena, which opened in early 2023, still prides itself on its diverse offerings and events. The store has faced burglaries.
Many residents wished Monrovia officials would raise awareness about the frequent hate at Underdog Bookstore. City officials did not respond to requests for comment Monday, April 8.
While the bookshop owners feel bittersweet about seeing a chapter close, Murtland hopes that someone will step up as a leader and take over the space.
“I hope (us) stepping back from Underdog doesn’t discourage people from pursuing their dreams,” he said. “Because even when we close, we were still here. And we still impacted the community, and we still created a space for the time. Nobody can take that away from us — that is something we will be proud of forever.”