Though 41 years for an independent bookstore is nothing to scoff at, Dark Carnival, a sci-fi haunt considered a safe haven for self-proclaimed comic book nerds and those in search of hard-to-find book collections, is closing.

This isn’t the first time the store, located at 3086 Claremont Ave. in Berkeley, was threatened by declining sales. Berkeleyside notes, that store owner Jack Rems made a public plea for support when sales plummeted in 2013. Sales turned around and the closing was pushed back. However, it looks like this time, save for a dramatic gesture from their loyal patrons, it will be closing for good.

Unsure of the exact date the bookstore will end its decades-long run in the heart of Berkeley, Rems told Berkeley Side, “I need to pay bills, so as long as by selling off stock we are generating more than it costs [we will stay open].”

The bookstore has attracted a dedicated patronage over the years, which includes Pulitzer Prize-winning author Michael Chabon and bestselling author Ayelet Waldman.

Rems also opened a sister store in 2011 called The Escapist, just two doors down from Dark Carnival. Currently, there is no news on whether or not that store will close but it appears likely if sales don’t increase. As of now, Dark Carnival is holding a “progressive sale,” offering a 20 percent discount on all stock.