Farewell Outwrite
Damn, we didn’t even have a funeral. I didn’t even know that Jan 25th was the last day of one of my favorite spots in town, Outwrite Bookstore. I saw a “60% off Everything” sign in the store, so I went in just to be nosey and that’s when the store owner, Philip Rafshoon, told me that I “better get what I need/want now, because it’s the last day”. According to GA Voice, the financial burden of operating that store at that location led him to shutting it down earlier than he expected. I was stunned. Actually, a lot of people didn’t know and now I hear some expressing their grievances for that store. I mean, come on, it was like in the center of Midtown and the unofficial community center for the LGBT community for 18 years!
Right now, imagine me in all black (veil included) and as I stand before you I just want to say I truly LOVED that store, but not just because it was known as a gay bookstore nor because of the delicious “eye candy” magazines they had tucked away in the back, but for me, that store was a big part of my entire experience living here in ATL. I remember back in the late nineties, when Outwrite was located off Monroe drive in that Midtown Promenade behind that Mellow Mushroom Pizza place. There I was standing in a two hour long ass line with some friends excited to see one of my favorite authors, Mr. E. Lynn Harris. Of course, Mr. Harris is no longer with us, but because of Outwrite, I got a chance to meet him in person and to thank him for his books. I’m grateful for all of the other celebrities too that I met too, like most recently Don Lemon and RuPaul. And way BEFORE I had a name in this town, Outwrite was ALWAYS generous and supportive of me advertising there. Also, there were serendipity moments when I would encounter and reunite with a few of my old friends that I hadn’t heard from in awhile. My “ass” also thanks Outwrite for those hearty cupcakes and sweet tea sold to me by their amazing staff. Oh and there were times I’ve gone in to work on my articles just because it felt like home. I’m truly going to miss you.
You know there’s a sign that they left in one of the display windows as if it was their last words and the last thing to read there: “May every sunrise hold more promise, and every sunset hold more peace” (insert ukulele playing Israel Kamakawiwo’s version of “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” and a few tears).
Until next week, DON’T read the girls, instead read The Brent Star Report!
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