New Age book store plans to close after move causes sales to decline

Dogged by low performance sales in the 18 months since moving to downtown Boise's Sonna Building, the high-profile Blue Unicorn New Age book store and multicultural items outlet is shutting down, according to its owner.

Blue Unicorn owner Richard Black said the decision to close the 12-year-old business was made after the company became financially shaky.

Black said he anticipated the store at 107 N. 9th St. would go out of business on Sept. 12.

A major Boise New Age products outlet, the Blue Unicorn moved downtown in March, 1997 from the current site of the Smoky Mountain Pizza restaurant at 18th and State streets.

"We don't have enough retail to bring a lot of people to the downtown core," Black said.

Black said the development of the downtown Boise business core is in progress, but hasn't been quick enough to save the Blue Unicorn.