An icon of Austin's literary scene is facing a new chapter after being priced out of its current location.
Red Salmon Arts, which runs East Austin-based Resistencia Bookstore, announced earlier this month that rent for the bookshop recently doubled, eventually leading to a notice to vacate the property before August.
The store, located at 4926 E. Cesar Chavez St. Unit C1, has been a platform for writers of Chicanx, Latinx, and Native American literature since 1981. Resistencia is also known for spotlighting feminist, black, and LGBTQ+ literature, while using the physical space as a meeting place for cultural and literary events in the community.
And now they're looking for the community's help.
"We need community support now more than ever," the nonprofit said in a July 10 Facebook post. "Our rent was recently doubled from one lease to the next, without any warning, and the space is no longer an affordable option for us. While we are in transition, we are asking for financial support of any amount."
In order to get that to the location, Resistencia leaders are now asking for donations to help cover moving expenses, rent or purchase of the new location, and pay for part-time staff. As of this story, the group so far has raised $4,435, or 15 percent, of its $30,000 goal.