Cellar Door Books opened 10 years ago when there were no independent bookstores in Riverside, CA. Nestled into the Eastside of the Canyon Crest Towne Center, near Canyon Crest Dr., the bookstore opened before their shelves where full. The community was eager for a new bookstore and once the doors opened owner Linda Nurick said, “people came in almost as if they were going to find a book they wanted to buy simply to support us.”

10 years later, Cellar Door has hosted author readings, story times, and book clubs, many book clubs, a different one focusing on a different type of literature seemingly every day. A feminist book club, a young adult book club, a sci-fi and fantasy book club and a LGBTQ book club, just to name a few. And if they don’t have the book you’re looking for, they will order it for you and get it into your hands as soon as possible.

Yet, Cellar Door hosting its first Drag Queen Storytime of the year on the 14^th, provoked the alt-right in Riverside to Speak out with a low effort intimidation campaign. Beginning at 5 am, according to Left Coast Rights Watch (LCRW), masked men put up stickers and posters around the bookstore. The flyers spread queerphobic “groomer” panic about the story time. On a nearby freeway overpass, a white cloth banner read “STOP GROOMING OUR CHILDREN DRAG ISN’T FOR KIDS” labeled with small-sized logos of the Proud Boys.

Then on Tuesday the 17^th Linda Nurick and Cellar Door Books received word from Canyon Crest Town Management that their lease is terminated and they need to be out by February 28^th. Just more than a month “to find a new place, move, [and] all that that entails,” she wrote via a post to Cellar Door’s Instagram page. But on an Instagram post/press release from the 20^th, Canyon Crest Towne Center says they’ve decided to give Cellar Door Books an extra month, till March 31^st to relocate.

In the same Instagram post/press release, Canyon Crest Towne Center said “Cellar Door Books was not in default of their lease, had timely paid their rental obligations, and had no outstanding complaints served against them.” Yet, as part of a management and Towne Center transition, the bookstore’s lease was terminated and “[t]heir premises will be repurposed for another use as part of a larger strategic initiative.”

The coincidence of the timing between the store’s Drag Queen Storytime, the alt-right/Proud Boy’s homophobic propaganda of stickers, flyers and freeway banner and the termination of the store’s lease has led many to call Canyon Crest Towne Center’s Instagram post/press release, bullshit. “This isn’t a reason,” for the termination of Cellar Door Books lease, one Instagram commentor posted. They went on to say, “this is just an excuse. Manipulating us all with,” your family’s “grief to pass your agenda forward.” Another commentor said “Best case scenario you kicked out a community book store that had helped pay for your asset for 10 years with insufficient notice in order to make a little bit more money. You have now added an additional month due to community backlash. That’s the best case.”

What happened to Cellar Door Books on the 14^th, was a continuation of what far right groups like the Proud Boys have spent the last two years doing, even in the Inland Empire: showing up at school board and government meetings and intimidating local parents, businesses and organizations when these people and entities have events, policies, programs and/or support diversity, BIPOC and LGBTQIA people and their issues, or are BIPOC-owned businesses like The Winery in the Towne Center.

However, Drag Queen Storytime went off without a hitch, according to Cellar Door’s Instagram story. Only one heckler was present: a man in a lifted white truck in the parking lot near the bookstore, yelling “groomers!” at passersby. He drove off once the event was over.

Yet, The Winery is leaving Canyon Crest as well. Management has let years of harassment against them continue, unabated.

As Cellar Door Books looks for a new location to create and build community, to share each other’s stories, the support that greeted them a decade ago when they opened, has only grown. On Sunday, according to Chani Beeman’s post to her Facebook page, co-chair of the Riverside Coalition for Police Accountability, Linda Nurick discussed with supporters her next steps with Cellar Door regarding the termination of “her lease (eviction for no cause)…it was so good to be in the company of smart, thoughtful community members…it is…an opportunity to see all the good that is in our community and the strength of folks coming together.” There will be a Go-Fund-Me Campaign to help with moving expenses and modifications to the new space.

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After the end of Drag Queen Storytime, a group of parents and grandparents stood outside Cellar Door Books with rainbow umbrellas, offering free mom and dad hugs.