Neil Gaiman

Dark Delicacies, a horror bookstore in Burbank California, was saved from closure largely due to the endorsements of celebrity patrons such as sci-fi director Guillermo del Toro, and horror novelists Neil Gaiman and Cory Doctorow. 

The bookstore, like many other independent bookstores, was struggling financially from the skyrocketing rents plaguing most American cities. Owners Del Howison and his wife Sue wrote in their GoFundMe campaign that they were inspired to relocate the “home of horror” rather than simply close down and “go quietly into the night” because of all the fans who stopped by and begged the owners to keep the store open.

Dark Delicacies was not just a small bookstore beloved by local horror enthusiasts but also a symbol in a broader special interest group. Works by del Toro and others were conceived and edited in independent bookstores like Dark Delicacies.

Guillermo del Toro took to Twitter and pleaded with his fellow “horror lovers” writing,  “I love, love, love Dark Delicacies. I vow to help it move successfully. You can help, too.”

Cory Doctorow, on his website BoingBoing, backed the crowdfunding campaign and stressed to his fans the importance of independent bookstores, specifically niche ones like Dark Delicacies. Del and Sue originally asked for 25,000$ to cover the cost of moving to a location just around the corner but with the endorsement and publicity of these giants their GoFundMe goal has been met in a little over four days, and the support just keeps growing.

Photo credit: Dark Delicacies