Outwrite Closes For Good

By Charles Edwards

Atlanta, GA – For 18 years, Outwrite Bookstore and Coffeehouse has been on the corner of Piedmont Avenue and 10th Street in Midtown Atlanta.

The business has been a cornerstone of the area's lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community. After months of financial struggles, Outwrite said it would relocate. However, the store's owner announced today the Midtown building is closed and he doesn't have enough money to move the business.

Poets, speakers and fond memories filled Outwrite's final event Tuesday night. Owner Philip Rafshoon remembers telling the crowd he was going to have a hard time relocating the store.

"By Tuesday night, we knew that we would be 99.9% closing today," said Rafshoon. "We just had some legal issues that we couldn't legally say that we were closing at that point."

Rafshoon declined to discuss the legal issues or disclose the store's exact debt. But he did say Outwrite was 3 months behind on rent.

"We were facing eviction and we did have to do the bankruptcy at this point this morning," said Rafshoon.

Rafshoon blamed the economy and, in part, himself for some financial decisions. The "For Lease" sign on the side of the store has been there since November. Rafshoon says it's also a sign of how long people have begged him to keep the store open.

"Telling their stories about how they can out at Outwrite and how it was a sanctuary to them and how important it is to the city that we remain at that location," said Rafshoon.

Rafshoon proudly recalls keeping Outwrite open as a symbol for the LGBT community despite fears for his safety and the safety of others. With today's closure, Rafshoon says he's confident another business will assume Outwrite's role in Atlanta over time.