Days after the hate group “Proud Boys” harasses visitors attending Drag Queen Storytimes at Cellar Door Books, Canyon Crest Management abruptly cancels their lease
BY MARK ARIEL
I have always loved books, stories and the power of words,” reveals Linda Sherman-Nurick, the owner of Cellar Door Books in Riverside, in an interview with THE FIGHT.
Opened in October 2012, the bookstore quickly established a dedicated clientele, offering a space to open minds, challenge ideas and opinions, have insightful conversations, to learn and grow.
Aside from the curation of books, Cellar Door hosts over twenty book clubs, as well as events with the Center for Social Justice and Civil Liberties and the new Civil Rights Institute.
Additionally, over the past few years, Cellar Door has hosted Drag Queen Story time.
“First it was the celebration and fun of these wonderful, beautiful Queens reading to their audience, and then it was all the parents, community members, folks who hadn’t even been at the reading, standing up for the Queens and the LGBTQ community, standing up against the ugliness and falsehood that was thrown around,” says Sherman-Nurick.
“We donated the ticket sales of the first one after COVID to the Transgender Law firm to try to help stop all the ugly legislation around the country,” reveals Sherman-Nurick.
Each event drew a few protestors—however at their last Drag Queen Story time in January this year, says Sherman-Nurick, “we just had a sticker on the door when I arrived for work that morning that said ‘Proud Boys are Everywhere,’ (apparently they like to play with stickers).”
A few days after the event Canyon Crest Towne Centre management notified Cellar Books of the termination of their lease.
“Deciding that they want to change things up at the Center is certainly their right, but to ask a tenant of 10 years, one who has paid fully even through the very tough times of COVID, to vacate the premises with not even the courtesy of an explanation, and to do so within an impossible time frame (originally 41 days, now 71 days) is something other than ‘we’re just changing things up.’ There is malice in this, a complete lack of even the slightest of courtesy. This kind of bullying comes out of hate, not simply business as usual, so yes, I believe it’s a reaction to much that we have done over the years but most of all, Drag Queen Story Time.”
Sherman-Nurick is not giving up and is currently looking for new space to lease.
“At the very first Drag Queen Story time we ever did,” reveals Sherman-Nurick, “one of the kids raised his hand and said, ‘My little brother likes to dress in my mom’s clothes!’ He waited just a minute and one of the Queens quietly responded, ‘and that’s okay.’ How different the world would be if that wisdom were shared more.”
Stay up to date on Cellar Door’s upcoming new location at: www.facebook.com/cellardoorriv.
