Boffins Books to close after 37 years

Boffins Books said on May 15 it will close on June 6, ending more than 37 years of trading in Perth’s central business district. The independent bookseller said it opened in February 1989 and had grown from a technical bookshop on Hay Street into a specialist and general-interest store at 88 William Street. Owner and director Lou Pontarolo told PerthNow the decision followed a prolonged squeeze on trading conditions. The company said rising costs, weaker discretionary spending and changes in CBD foot traffic had made the storefront harder to sustain. ### When will the shop actually close? June 6, 2026 is the final trading date listed in Boffins Books’ closure notice. The company said it would “officially cease operations” that day after more than 37 years in business. The PerthNow report published on May 15 said the store would close later this month, and other local coverage identified Saturday, June 6, as the last day of trading. (boffinsbooks.com.au) Boffins’ own website carries the same date. ### What reasons did Boffins give for shutting down? Lou Pontarolo told PerthNow the closure was driven by the cost-of-living crisis and lower pedestrian activity in Perth’s CBD. PerthNow reported that he linked the decision to weaker city trade. (perthnow.com.au) Boffins Books said in its own announcement that the decision followed “structural and economic shifts” in retail. The company cited work-from-home arrangements that changed city foot traffic, the growth of suburban destination hubs, and higher expenses including energy, insurance, wages and freight, alongside tighter consumer spending. (perthnow.com.au) ### How long had Boffins been operating, and where was it based? February 1989 is the opening date given in the company’s closure notice. Boffins said it began as a niche technical bookshop on Hay Street before later operating from 88 William Street in Perth. The company’s website describes Boffins as a specialist bookseller in the heart of Perth’s CBD. (boffinsbooks.com.au) Its online storefront says it has been in business since 1989 and has served customers from its William Street location while also shipping orders nationwide. ### What kind of role did the store play in Perth’s book scene? Boffins Books said it had served as a “sanctuary” for readers and as a partner to libraries, authors and festivals. (boffinsbooks.com.au) The company’s events page shows a long run of author talks, launches and literary events, including appearances tied to the City of Perth Library and visiting writers. (boffinsbooks.com.au) PerthNow reported that readers and local groups reacted publicly to the closure announcement. Separate local coverage said Planet Books, another Perth bookseller, described Boffins as “forever one of the best,” reflecting the response from parts of the city’s bookselling community. (boffinsbooks.com.au) ### Can customers still buy from Boffins before it closes? Boffins Books’ website remained live on May 15 with its regular catalogue, store address and ordering functions. The site says the business takes online orders and delivers across Australia at a flat rate. The company’s closure notice directs customers to the website while the business winds down toward June 6. (perthnow.com.au) That leaves a named end point for in-store trading and an online channel still operating in the final weeks. ### What happens next? June 6, 2026 is the date Boffins Books says operations will cease. (boffinsbooks.com.au) Until then, the company’s closure notice and retail site remain available to customers through the Boffins Books website, which lists the William Street store and current stock. (boffinsbooks.com.au)