Surprise Closing at Kepler’s Menlo Park, CA independent bookstore Kepler’s closed suddenly yesterday after just over 50 years in business, with a sign posted on the door telling customers: “As much as we love what we do and would like to continue another 50 years, we simply cannot.” Palo Alto Online reports, “Employees were left stunned and reeling from the announcement as [owner Clark] Kepler cited financial problems that had built since the dot-com bust of 2001.… Some employees had heard rumors of a financial crisis over several days, but many thought the all-staff meeting was to announce layoffs.” City […]