Crown Books Sees a New Chapter After Bankruptcy

Crown Books, the beleaguered discount book chain that will close nearly all of its San Fernando Valley outlets within the next few weeks, may be back on the scene as early as next year, a company spokesman said.

Steve Pate, vice president of operations at the Landover, Md.-based chain, said that once the company sheds scores of unprofitable stores, including eight in the Valley, Santa Clarita and Thousand Oaks, it will begin opening stores again.

Asked if the Valley figured into those plans, Pate said, “Emphatically yes. We want very much to be there. Those are the right demographics; those are the customers we want.”

Pate said the revamped chain, which is in bankruptcy organization and is up for sale, will return to its initial focus on deep discounting.