Barillari Books Closes Doors Without Warning

Discount bookseller Barillari Book Store mysteriously shut its doors last week, leaving a darkened, cluttered suite and no indication as to whether it will reopen.

Barillari, located on Mt. Aubara St., could be the fourth Square book store to close in recent years. Square mainstays Reading International, the Cambridge Booksmith and the Book Case are all gone for good.

Even the Coop is now in trouble, with revenue so low that the Harvard flagship book store will not offer a financial rebate to members this year.

A piece of yellow legal paper with the message, "closed for renovations," hangs on the front window of Barillari's. Last week, there was a message reading, "closed for inventory, according to witness at after business.

including a security guard, were removing bundles from the store this morning.

Inside the darkened store, the shelves are stripped of books, and there are gaps in the tiled ceiling where panels have been removed.

According to the Cambridge Building Department, no permit is on file for significant alterations to the store, such as new walls, plumbing, or electrical wiring.

The Harvard Square Business Association is also in the dark about Barillari's said Kristin T. Sudholz, association representative.

We've been trying to find out, what's going on," she said. "They're an Association member, and we like to keep track of what members are doing. Besides, we've had customers call and we would like to know what to tell them."

Cynthia K. Millon, another association representative, said the group had not been able to such the owner of the store, David Barillari.

"The only way we have to contact him is through the store, and nobody's there," Miller said.

Barillari could not be reached for comment.

An employee of Chili's Grill and Bar, across the street from the book store, said she first noticed the closed sign about a week ago

"Some of our employees like to go over there and hang out while they're on break," Kim M. Niemi said. "When they went over one night, there wasn't anybody there."

George M. Sarkis, an employee of neighboring business C'est Bon, seems to know as much as anyone.

"The place is closed," he said

Inside the darkened store, the shelves are stripped of books, and there are gaps in the tiled ceiling where panels have been removed.

According to the Cambridge Building Department, no permit is on file for significant alterations to the store, such as new walls, plumbing, or electrical wiring.

The Harvard Square Business Association is also in the dark about Barillari's said Kristin T. Sudholz, association representative.

We've been trying to find out, what's going on," she said. "They're an Association member, and we like to keep track of what members are doing. Besides, we've had customers call and we would like to know what to tell them."

Cynthia K. Millon, another association representative, said the group had not been able to such the owner of the store, David Barillari.

"The only way we have to contact him is through the store, and nobody's there," Miller said.

Barillari could not be reached for comment.

An employee of Chili's Grill and Bar, across the street from the book store, said she first noticed the closed sign about a week ago

"Some of our employees like to go over there and hang out while they're on break," Kim M. Niemi said. "When they went over one night, there wasn't anybody there."

George M. Sarkis, an employee of neighboring business C'est Bon, seems to know as much as anyone.

"The place is closed," he said

"The only way we have to contact him is through the store, and nobody's there," Miller said.

Barillari could not be reached for comment.

An employee of Chili's Grill and Bar, across the street from the book store, said she first noticed the closed sign about a week ago

"Some of our employees like to go over there and hang out while they're on break," Kim M. Niemi said. "When they went over one night, there wasn't anybody there."

George M. Sarkis, an employee of neighboring business C'est Bon, seems to know as much as anyone.

"The place is closed," he said