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Press release from Northtown Books:

Jan. 5, 2025 - Arcata, CA. We are heartbroken to share that on Friday, Jan. 2, 2026, a fire destroyed the Northtown Books building. The damage is a total loss. We are profoundly grateful that no one was injured.

First, thank you. The love, encouragement, and support we have received over the past few days has been overwhelming in the best possible way. So many people have thanked us for being here for more than 60 years, but the truth is this: without the incredible support of our community, we never would have been able to do what we love all these years. The thanks are for you.

Right now, we are in shock and working to navigate the many steps that come with a loss of this magnitude. Because of the extent of the damage, all inventory, records, equipment, and historical materials were lost. Access to the site remains restricted while fire officials and our insurance carrier complete their assessments. We ask for patience and understanding as this process unfolds.

Please forgive us if we are not able to respond personally to every message, call, or offer of help. Please know that we appreciate every kindness more than we can adequately express.

There are many factors to consider, but if it is at all feasible, we would love to rebuild Northtown Books. We expect to know more about that possibility within the next month or so. We are deeply thankful for the many offers to help with a rebuild, and when the time comes, we will gratefully take you up on them.

For now, if you would like to continue to support the store, you can do so through our website at northtownbooks.com. We do not currently have a way to receive books for in-store pickup. If you place an order, please select shipping directly to you. Our distributor will drop-ship the books, and Northtown Books will receive credit for those sales. We may not be able to provide everything listed on the site at this time, but we will do our best to get you what you need.

For customers with special orders, gift cards, store credit, or for consignors who had items with us, we are developing a clear, documented process to address each situation fairly. We will share specific instructions and timelines as soon as possible through our official channels.

Please share this message with friends and family. For now, please rely only on updates posted directly by us.

While the building is gone, the heart of Northtown Books—its stories, its relationships, and its purpose—remains. Thank you for standing with us as we take the first steps forward.

With gratitude,

Dante DiGenova, Northtown Books