01/16/2026
Hey friends. This is hard to write.
For months now, so many of you have come in and asked me, “How are things really?”
And every time, I smiled and said we were good. That slow days happen. That it’s all part of running a small business.
The truth is… it hasn’t been good. And it hasn’t been good for a while.
That silence is on me. I should have spoken up sooner. I didn’t because I love this community so deeply, and I know how hard life is right now. Families are choosing between groceries and bills. Other small businesses are struggling just to stay afloat. And I could not bring myself to add my worries to a world already carrying so much weight.
So I kept quiet. I kept smiling. And I told you everything was fine—until it wasn’t.
Right now, Krew’s Books & Brews is on the verge of having to close its doors. Writing that makes my chest hurt. This place isn’t just a bookstore or a coffee shop to me—it’s a safe space. A home for book lovers, for kids, for quiet mornings and hard days, for community when the world feels overwhelming. Watching the possibility of losing that has been heartbreaking.
Before I finally told a few close friends how bad things really were, I had already given up. I was ready to close quietly, lick my wounds, and mourn a dream I poured my whole heart into. But they loved me enough to be honest—loved me enough to push me to ask for help, even when it went against every instinct I have.
So here I am, doing something that is incredibly uncomfortable for me. Some amazing friends have rallied around us with fundraisers, benefit events, and yes… a GoFundMe. Asking for help like this has been a very hard pill to swallow. I’ve wrestled with it. I still do. But I’m choosing to believe that accepting help is not failure—it’s love.
I also want to be honest about this: the most meaningful way to support Krew’s Books & Brews has always been, and still is, showing up. Choosing a local coffee over a chain. Buying your books from us instead of online. Sitting with a drink, bringing a friend, letting this space be lived in. Those everyday choices matter more than people realize—and they’re what keep small businesses like ours alive.
Please know this: if you are not in a place to give financially, that is okay. Truly. Sharing this post, telling a friend about us, showing up when you can—all of that matters more than you know.
Maybe this works. Maybe it doesn’t. Maybe we’re able to keep our doors open, or maybe we eventually have to say goodbye. But I needed you to know the truth—and to know that if this place survives, it’s because a community came together and helped us try.
Thank you for reading. Thank you for loving this little space. Thank you for loving me enough to listen.
No matter what happens, I will always be grateful for every single one of you. 🤍
“Until the darkness takes us….”
— Karri
https://gofund.me/5bf1bc42b
