Squirrel Hill shoppers and merchants are accustomed to a revolving door of businesses coming and going on Murray and Forbes avenues, but the recent decision by Barnes & Noble to close its doors came as a blow to the busy shopping district.

The bookseller's closing, which is scheduled for New Year's Eve, was a second gut punch to the street, which lost a Panera Bread shop a month ago.

Some see the bookseller as an anchor and wonder if two popular corporate entities can't make a go of it on such a densely pedestrian thoroughfare, then what might replace it?

"It'd be hard to find a local company wanting to take on that space," roughly 7,000 square feet, said Morris Grossman, owner of Dalmo Optical on Forbes Avenue, "and we haven't been able to draw many of the big chains" because most opt for large-scale developments and lifestyle centers.

"It's just surprising that stores like Barnes & Noble and Panera wouldn't be able to sustain themselves in this community," he said. "But I think the right retail would do very well, like a Crate & Barrel."

Panera's move was shocking for being abrupt and because the restaurant-coffee shop had always been busy.

Earlier this week, a spokesman for Barnes & Noble in New York said it made "a business decision not to renew our lease."

Calls for details were not returned, but some Squirrel Hill merchants said the business district has a problem with landlords raising rents.

"I have been here for 28 years and I remember when there were three expensive women's clothing stores" and more variety than today, said Janice Cavrak, daytime bartender at the Squirrel Hill Cafe. "Homestead [The Waterfront development, two miles away] has had an impact, but I think the landlords around here want too much rent."

Ashlee Mauti, marketing director for Panera in southwestern Pennsylvania, said that she was not aware of a rent issue in Panera's decision.

"When we opened that store 10 years ago, we didn't have locations in Shadyside and The Waterfront," she said. "So when the lease was up, we decided not to renew.

"It always happens when we open new stores" that they take business from others, she said. The Squirrel Hill Panera "was a busy location. We just wanted to leave opportunities open for other locations. We possibly might be expanding the Shadyside store."

Some in Squirrel Hill said they think the Barnes & Noblestore was too small and that its lack of a music section has been a detriment.

The neighborhood has not been without a mainstream bookstore in anyone's memory, so the loss of Barnes & Noble isn't just a business loss.

"I don't think they'll be able to fill this space with anything that will take its place,' said Melinda Strauss, an Oakland resident who works as a school librarian. "I've been coming here for 15 years, [going first] to Eat n' Park and then over here to get a book."

She said she thinks the space will be re-let quickly enough "because this is a pretty vibrant area, but it is such a big loss. Books are so important."

Chris Cordts, a Squirrel Hill resident, entered the store yesterday morning as she does two or three times a week and her eyes popped when asked her thoughts on the impact the store's closing might have. "You're kidding!" she said. After a long pause, she said, "Oh that's terrible.

"We've lost a lot on this block," she said, adding that her copy store, A&A Mailing Services Plus, closed last summer. "I hope this is not a trend. I can't imagine what" might replace Barnes & Noble, "but I hope not another restaurant."

Charles Spiegel, owner of Charles Spiegel for Men on Forbes Avenue, said that despite the loss of Barnes & Noble "we're not in as bad shape" as strip malls and other retail hubs. We have more than enough banks, more than enough Asian restaurants and more than enough pizza shops, but it's all about who's willing" to sign a long-term lease.

"The stores that have been successful here have been neighborhoody stores, the owner-operated local stores. That's the beauty of Squirrel Hill."

But a revolving door it is.

A "coming soon" sign on 1717 Murray, the former A&A Mailing promises a frozen yogurt business. Where Cheryl Chotiner sold women's accessories for 12 years at 5817 Forbes, a "coming soon" sign promises "women's fashion couture and designer denim" by the name of Zipper Blues.

Earlier this year, Ms. Chotiner moved to Reynolds Street in Point Breeze, her 13th in business.

"I left not necessarily because rents were going up but because traffic on the street did not warrant the rent. For most of my 12 years there, I didn't mind because I was getting the traffic, but the last few years, people weren't coming out as much.

"There are some great stores on the avenue, and I happen to think it's us little guys who will survive," she said. "The big box stores are closing. The independents are hanging in there, even if we have to reinvent ourselves."

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