"Bookstore Ye" closed stores at Kyiv and Odesa railway stations

Ukrainian chain "Bookstore Ye" has ceased operations of two bookstores located at the railway stations of Kyiv and Odesa. The company cited the security situation, which complicates the work and further development of these retail outlets, as the reason for the closure.

The chain reported this on its official Instagram page on October 20.

The company explained that under current circumstances, it can no longer ensure the full operation of bookstores at train stations. At the same time, the chain did not name other reasons for the closure, including financial indicators of individual stores.

"Unfortunately, the security situation and the circumstances in which we all currently find ourselves do not allow us to fully operate and further develop these spaces," the company noted.

The bookstore at Kyiv Central Railway Station opened on February 14, 2025. It operated in waiting room No. 3 on the first floor of the station and occupied an area of 102.7 sq. m.

To open the store, "Bookstore Ye" won the rental auction of "Ukrzaliznytsia", offering 403.8 thousand UAH per month. This was approximately 2.4 times more than the starting rental rate, reports Forbes Ukraine. The mentioned amount relates to the results of the 2024 auction, not a confirmed reason for the bookstore closure.

The bookstore at Odesa railway station began operating in March 2026. It was opened as part of a joint project of "Bookstore Ye" and the Idealist coffee shop chain. Thus, the Odesa location existed for about seven months.

In addition, according to Forbes Ukraine information, on October 19, the chain also closed the bookstore at 16b, Stepan Bandera Avenue, near the Pochaina metro station in Kyiv. The reasons for the closure of this retail outlet were not separately specified.

Despite the closure of the station stores, "Bookstore Ye" continues to operate in other locations. According to Forbes Ukraine, as of October 20, the chain had 82 operating bookstores, excluding closed and temporarily non-operational points.

The company thanked the visitors of the station bookstores and emphasized that these spaces were primarily aimed at passengers who bought books before trips or during transfers.

There is currently no information about the possible resumption of operations of the stores at Kyiv and Odesa railway stations or the opening of new outlets to replace them.