South Main Book Company In Salisbury Closed As Owner Strikes Over National ICE Violence

Salisbury’s beloved local bookstore, South Main Book Company, has closed its doors until further notice as owner Alissa Redmond has announced she is going on strike in protest of national Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) actions. The closure, which began on January 25, has drawn attention locally and beyond as part of broader dissent against recent events involving ICE officers and federal immigration enforcement.

Redmond took to social media to explain that her decision was not pre-planned but driven by a deep sense that ordinary business operations feel inappropriate given current events. Her strike was prompted by the killing of Alex Pretti by ICE officers in Minneapolis on January 24, a case that many activists say reflects troubling patterns in federal enforcement. Redmond expressed that she cannot continue business as usual while such incidents occur and go without accountability.

While the shop is closed to retail activity, Redmond is continuing to support her staff by paying wages for employees who request them. She has also outlined plans to participate in community events, including reopening for Wine About Winter on February 6 and selling books at the Brady Authors Symposium at Catawba College on February 26. However, she is suspending credit card processing, inventory orders, and most shipments until her strike ends.

Redmond has made clear she is not urging other businesses to shut down, but hopes her actions highlight what she describes as an abnormal moment in the country that deserves serious attention. She has stated that proceeds from future sales at events will go to local nonprofits, rather than to traditional commercial operations.

The bookstore’s temporary closure reflects a wider wave of protest actions, including planned rallies and business closures in other parts of the country in solidarity with anti-ICE movements and calls for justice. Citizens with differing views have variously supported or questioned such actions, but Redmond’s stance has undeniably sparked conversation in Salisbury about civic engagement, business ethics, and collective responsibility.