“Kepler’s, a landmark bookstore and cultural icon of the Menlo Park/Palo Alto area for more than a half century, abruptly closed for good this morning.

“’This is it,’ owner Clark Kepler told about 40 employees at a 9 a.m. all-staff meeting, shedding tears. Employees were left stunned and reeling from the announcement as Kepler cited financial problems that had built since the dot-com bust of 2001. Some employees cried during Kepler’s short announcement.”

What a shock.