Srinagar’s iconic bookstore shuts down after 45 years

Bestseller, an iconic bookstore and one of the oldest in Srinagar, has announced its closure after facing steep competition from online retail, which significantly dented its sales.

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Located near the Clock Tower in the famed Lal Chowk area, the bookstore was founded by by Sanaullah Chiloo over 45 years ago. For the past eight years, it was managed by his son Saniyasnain Chiloo, also known as Sani, who is 32-year-old.

After completing his MBA from Pune, it was a matter of passion for Sani to take over his father’s bookstore.

On taking charge, Sani revamped the store’s offerings by introducing a range of fiction, non-fiction and other genres, successfully drawing young readers who still preferred hard copies over digital formats.

“Online giants like Amazon have hit the sale of books hard. In 2019, after abrogation of Article 370, we witnessed a rare surge in sales during the internet blockade. The store would open for a few hours and there would be a beeline of people eager to buy books,” said Sani.

However, he noted that the deep discounts offered by online retailers make it difficult for independent retailers to compete. “We have started packing the books and the store will be completely shut within a week. Some people have been coming in to buy books after hearing about the closure,” Sani added.