The full impact of Comstock’s decision to halt its plans for a mixed-use development in downtown Herndon is still solidifying, but at least one ripple effect of the project appears to be irreversible.
The independent bookstore A Thousand Stories announced earlier this month that Saturday, Dec. 21 will be its last day in business. In a push to clear its shelves, the store at 750 Center Street is offering extended hours and discounts of 20% to 40% off all items until it closes.
The store is currently open from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Wednesday and Thursday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, and noon to 4 p.m. on Sunday.
“The past two years have been full of new friends, lessons learned, and so many great books,” A Thousand Stories said in an Instagram post. “We’re very grateful for this wild ride we’ve had.”
Store owners Michelle Ratto and Beth Luke made the “difficult decision to close” after they were unable to find a new location, according to their Dec. 4 announcement. Its current building, where it rents space on a monthly basis from Arts Herndon, was targeted for demolition to make way for Comstock’s planned downtown redevelopment project.
Comstock notified the Town of Herndon last Friday (Dec. 6) that it won’t proceed with the project, which had been in the works since 2017 and would’ve transformed 4.7 acres of downtown Herndon with a new arts center, 273 apartments, retail and a public parking garage.
Comstock’s change of plans hasn’t affected the decision to close A Thousand Stories, according to Ratto.
“This was always meant to be a temporary location for us, but after 2 years of looking we’ve been unable to find a larger location,” she told FFXnow by email. “After weighing all our options, we’ve decided that the best decision is to close our doors. We’ve loved being in Herndon for the past 2 years and hope that the town is able to attract some quality businesses in the future.”
Ratto and Luke opened A Thousand Stories in November 2022 in the hopes of filling a void in the Town of Herndon, which didn’t have an independent bookstore of its own at the time. The store offers a curated selection of books and gifts with a particular focus on items for children and young adults. It also hosted book clubs and literary events.
Encouraging supporters to stop by for “one last shopping trip,” A Thousand Stories thanked its “wonderful customers and friends for making our little bookstore possible.”
Commenters expressed disappointment and sadness at the announcement. One person said attending the store’s book club was “one of the best things that has happened to me this year,” while others thanked the store for supporting local authors and the community.
“I am so sad to see ya’ll leave! I have loved your store!” one commenter said. “Thank you for creating a beautiful and welcoming space. Best wishes on your next adventure.”
Arts Herndon’s future unclear
The collapse of Comstock’s redevelopment project has also left Arts Herndon in a murky limbo. The nonprofit arts organization is leasing its 3,210-square-foot space from the Town of Herndon, which in turn is licensing the building from Comstock.
Herndon’s Heritage Preservation Review Board approved certificates allowing the buildings at 750 Center Street and 770 Elden Street to be demolished in 2019, two years after the town and Comstock signed their original agreement for the redevelopment. The town then transferred the land to the developer in December 2020.
While the Elden Street building — a former Stohlman Subaru car dealership — has since been demolished, the town agreed on Dec. 18, 2020 to sublicense part of the approximately 6,000-square-foot building on Center Street to Arts Herndon with the understanding that the nonprofit would leave once construction on the redevelopment began.
The agreement was extended multiple times, most recently for a four-month period on Nov. 12. The town set an expiration date of March 31, 2025 in anticipation of Comstock breaking ground on its project in April.
The town offered a 2,790-square-foot space previously occupied by NextStop Theatre Company as an alternate storage location during construction, starting Jan. 1, 2025, but it’s now unclear when or if Arts Herndon will have to vacate its current site.
“We don’t know what’s going to happen,” Arts Herndon President and CEO Joanna Ormesher told FFXnow.
Created in 2016 through a merger of the Council for the Arts of Herndon and the Herndon Foundation for the Cultural Arts, Arts Herndon supports visual and performing artists with a gallery, studio and classroom space, and community projects and events.
Ormesher says her team has “worked really hard to build a vibrant arts community,” and they hope to keep up those efforts. Upcoming events include “Calamity: The Show,” an improv comedy night that Dark Horse Theatre Company will bring to the gallery this Saturday (Dec. 14).
“It’s frustrating,” Ormesher said. “I want it all to continue, as do all of my partners.”
