The iconic shop Circus of Books, a Los Angeles-area landmark located in West Hollywood and a staple in the gay community, closed its doors this past weekend.
Storeowners Karen and Barry Mason ran Circus of Books since the 1980s. The store sold newspapers and classic literary titles, but found its niche offering porn and adult novelties. The store became known as a welcoming space for members of the gay community, both as consumers and as a space to make social connections.
Local news reported that the rise and normalization of gay porn, which is readily available online, has made the store less relevant.
According to the LA Times, “[o]ver the years, Circus of Books has survived an FBI raid, federal obscenity charges and complaints from law enforcement who said the store attracted prostitution and other criminal elements. It remained open during the AIDS crisis, when numerous employees died. But it could not survive Amazon.”
The WeHo Times reported that the store was closing back in June of 2017 and that the Masons were hoping to be out of business by the end of that year. The couple, who own the entire building, however, took their time to find the right renter for the space. After over a year of searching, they were ready to move on.
Circus of Books’ closure is a long slow blow to many intersecting, marginalized communities — both the gay community, as well as the adult industry community. It was an iconic space in Los Angeles, a city whose vast and diverse cultural history is often overshadowed by the constant churning of non-locals seeking various fantasy projections of the SoCal dream. The store’s closure also speaks to the very real struggles all retailers are experiencing in Amazon’s 2019.
We wish the very best for the Mason family and thank them for their decades’ long efforts to normalize sexual expression in the city, as well as within the wider culture.
Read the LA Times’ long-form coverage of Circus of Books’ history and cultural significance here.
Circus of Books and the Masons are the subject of a forthcoming documentary about the store, which is being made by Rachel Mason, the couple’s daughter.
Image of Karen and Barry Mason via Rachel Mason’s documentary Facebook page.
