Duluth Police had to intervene Thursday afternoon when the owners of a landmark downtown bookshop reacted in frustration to the fire marshal's decision to shut the store down.
George Persgard, who owns Boardwalk Books, 206 E. Superior St., with his wife, Heather Persgard, was cited for obstruction of justice after refusing to unlock the front door of his business, which was formerly known as R.O. Carlson Used Book & Record.
George Persgard said he locked the front doors for about 15 minutes after learning the store was being ordered closed to the public. He didn't open it again until a police officer kicked it twice, he said.
Duluth Police Sgt. Dan Boese said an officer pounded on the door to get the Persgards' attention, but no one kicked the door.
In a news release, city spokesman Jeff Papas said Fire Marshal Erik Simonson inspected the building Thursday afternoon and ordered it closed over concerns about its electrical system.
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In the news release, Simonson said the interior of the store is so hazardous he would recommend firefighters perform only "limited interior firefighting operations" should the store catch fire.
George Persgard said this was the first inspection he's received in the four years he and his wife have owned the bookstore. He said he felt like he was being asked to bring the building, which was constructed in 1915, up to 2008 "on 10 minutes' notice" and that his business was being picked on.
"The wiring is safe," he said. "There isn't a building downtown save for the new structures that they couldn't harass."
The bookstore -- which bills itself as "Duluth's Finest Tourist Attraction" and is recognizable by the posters of Raquel Welch, Jimi Hendrix and Mick Jagger in its windows -- was shuttered for 10 months in 2003 after its then-owner ran into trouble with the IRS.
George and Heather Persgard weren't optimistic about the bookstore's future Thursday afternoon.
"My understanding is that today is basically the funeral for the bookstore," George Persgard said.
"It won't reopen this time," Heather Persgard added.
George Persgard said the building that houses the bookstore was built in 1915 and has been in his family 33 years. The bookstore opened in 1986.
