Business is booming at The Bookstore in Downtown Chico, but the used book seller is in danger of closing its doors after the original owner decided to retire.
Josh Mills, who has worked at the main street shop for more than 20 years, doesn't want that to happen and he's working to raise the money to buy the business in a hurry.
"You know they are not lending money that readily these days. So we knew we had to do something," Mills said.
After scraping together the money for the down payment, Mills and his family have just over a month to come up with more than $35,000 to purchase the business.
Luckily they discovered the crowd funding site Indie Go Go.
“At the last minute we threw it together and brainstormed and it went up and it is looking good," Mills said.
The site allows members of the community to contribute money to a cause or business. In return, the contributors get little perks from the businesses.
Mills is offering gift certificates, t-shirts and even some first edition books from his personal collection.
"The support has been overwhelming," Mills said.
Just a day after the campaign was launched; there have already been more than 130 contributions from supporters who can't imagine losing the store that has been a part of Downtown Chico for 37 years.
"A big part of it for me is getting to flip through the pages and see what it is all about first," Molly Roberts said.
With 45 days left to raise the money, mills is optimistic that the Chico community can help author a new beginning for the bookstore he's grown up in.
"This is what I do, this is what I love," Mills said.
If you'd like to help out, you can do so
here.
