Unique Pasadena Bookstore Faces Financial Deadline

[UPDATED AT 1:42 P.M.: According to store owner Judith Marosvolgyi, the goal of the IndieGoGo campaign is $28,000. While their IndieGoGo site shows a 15% funding, additional funds have been raised by recent visitors to the store.]

Judith and Steve Marosvolgyi, co-owners of Century Books of Pasadena, opened Century Books on Green Street near Caltech in the winter of 2011. The two curated the collections and worked long hours to create a unique place of words and art.

As Judith first wrote in the store’s business plan, “You know those places in Paris, London, or New York, where you have a street lined with beautiful trees, in effect a picturesque shady lane, filled with charming cafés and shops. It is a place where you want to go and forget about time on a pleasant afternoon, to leisurely walk the street, visiting all its nooks, and enjoying all it has to offer. Well, our dream is to open a small bookshop on a beautiful street in Pasadena. ”

Now the store is in danger of having to re-locate, following the landlord’s requirement of a six-month rent reserve.

The store has set up an IndieGoGo campaign (http://tinyurl.com/jxb5btq) to raise enough money  to avoid relocating, but has only a few days left to reach its goal. (As of this morning, the project has raised  15% of its goal, with $4,095 raised in 9 days by 69 donors.) Unlike many other online campaigns however, the bookstore will be able to keep all contributions regardless of whether or not they reach their final goal.In addition, a number of perks are available for contributors to the campaign, ranging from art packages to store credits to original artworks.

As Judith wrote on the campaign site, “It was under extraordinary circumstances that we were able to lease this space on the first place, where kind friends came and helped us start from nothing. But this was the perfect place for all the things that we have envisioned from the beginning, so we persevered. Our close proximity to Caltech has been invaluable to us. Students, teachers, and everyone have been a great support to our store.

“If we would have to relocate,” she continued, “we might not be able to have the unique lectures, which we and our community have been so fortunate to participate in. Also, in the case of relocation, the cost of the move would be significantly higher, not counting the loss of sales due to relocation and preparation of a new space.”

Judith also told Pasadena Now that should the store relocate, it would remain in a Pasadena location.

Century Books is at 1039 East Green Street, Pasadena. (626) 796-1703.