The Junction strip mall likely will be without a bookstore by August, and the store’s management has expressed concerns about the city’s consideration to subsidize developments aimed at bringing large discount stores to DeKalb.

Sales intended to clear out the remaining stock will continue through the end of summer.

“We’ve sold down quite a bit, about 20 to 25 percent of our stock,” said Junction Book Store manager Don Rodrick. “This sounds like a sales pitch, but our stock is still pretty good, objectively speaking.”

Located at 822 W. Lincoln Highway, the store’s management originally expected to survive the opening of Borders Books and Music in Northland Plaza last November, but Junction owner David Systma announced March 24 the store would close.

Under different owners and names, the bookstore has been in business in DeKalb for 33 years. Systma and Rodrick judged the store would not be able to withstand the additional competition from Barnes & Noble, which is set to open in November.

A closing date has not been set, but Rodrick predicts it will happen over the summer.

“We still don’t have an absolute firm day, but we think the end of July,” he said. “It could go either way, though.”

When that happens, the nearly 20 employees at the store will be out of work. Almost all of the employees are part-time working students.

To prepare for its closing, the Junction started clearance sales to help push merchandise out the door.

Rodrick said customers are better off not waiting for books they have their eyes on to go down further in price because nothing that sells out will be re-ordered.

The magazines are all gone, but the store has a few remaining calendars. Gift certificates, cash, checks and credit cards are still being accepted, though in-store coupons are not.

Rodrick said he was not in favor of the city subsidizing new developments aimed at bringing large discount stores into DeKalb. He applauded the majority of city council members for stating they would vote against granting Joseph Freed & Associates’ request for $8.4 million in subsidies for the development of Northland Plaza.

“I think that’s good the city council still has questions and they’re not going to do anything until they get answers,” he said.

“Bringing Borders and Barnes & Noble here wasn’t a personal attack,” Rodrick added. “They just didn’t think out the effects of what they were doing.”

Several businesses have expressed interest in moving into the location after the Junction closes, Rodrick said. He declined to comment on what kinds of businesses had shown interest.After 33 years of business in the area, the Junction Book Store, 822 W. Lincoln Highway, will close its doors, most likely by August. Store management blames the influx of large discount retail stores for the closing.