Beyond Q Books in Weston closes for good on Friday, after trading in Canberra for 46 years.
The owners Jenni Lawton and Simon Maddox say leasing issues with the landlord and a massive drop in trade forced by the coronavirus shutdowns left them with no choice but to close their doors at 6pm on Friday.
A dozen people also lose their jobs.
The store will be open for final trade between 9am and 6pm on Friday for its Make Us An Offer sale on the remaining books.
Beyond Q Books opened in 1974. Mr Maddox bought it in 2000 when it was still in Curtin and moved it to Weston in 2017.
He was feeling a little overwhelmed on Thursday, the second-last day of trade.
"It's 20 years I've been doing this. It's not like being in the public service and looking forward to retirement. It's not a job, it's a lifestyle."
The shop was busy on Thursday with customers walking out with arm-fulls of books.
Ms Lawton took a call from one customer asking if they had a particular book, the person not realising they were closing.
"It's not our choice, it's not our choice," she told them.
"I'm not looking forward to tomorrow," Ms Lawton said, on Thursday.
"What can we do? We're one of many businesses reaching the end of our time. It's not the books, it's not the money, it's the community spirit everyone will miss. This has been our family."
Mr Maddox said the easing of social distancing restrictions allowing some limited trade had come too late for the business.
"The closing down has been humbling, and I mean that in the true sense," he said.
"People have paid more than the price in the books. People have dropped off envelopes with money in them. Some people have been in tears. It's been an emotional time.
"It makes me feel we've done something worthwhile in the last 20 years."
One young customer made them a handmade thank you note.
"Her mother said she had first went to the Curtin store when she was six and now she was bringing her own children," Ms Lawton said.
Customers also vied to keep a piece of the bookstore.
Beyond Q is auctioning off, on its Facebook page, its decorative musical steel gates by artist Hedge and its handmade door by artist Daniel McFeeley. The auction closes Thursday night.
Meanwhile, Ms Lawton said there was one way to remember them - by donating to the Papua New Guinea charity Caring for Kiriwina, to aid maternal and infant health, founded in the memory of Ms Lawton's mother Margaret, who lived there fore more than a decade with her father Dr Rev. Ralph Lawton.
