Many Dunedin residents were dismayed when this year’s annual Regent Theatre 24-hour Book Sale was cancelled because of the Covid-19 pandemic.
It left the theatre with a large supply of books, and nowhere to sell them.
But the story has taken an unexpected turn.
The Regent Theatre and the Dunedin Central Rotary Club have announced a pop-up fundraising book sale will open on Thursday at 300 George St, in the former ANZ bank.
Books will be sold for $1 each in the shop, which will be run by Rotary.
Regent Theatre 24-hour Book Sale co-ordinator Alison Cunningham said book sale organisers were "very disappointed" when the event was cancelled.
It would have been the 40th annual sale.
"As life is very slowly returning to normal in the theatre, we need to offer promoters the maximum flexibility around dates, and so we reluctantly decided not to hold a 24-hour sale at all this year.
"This left us with a large stock of books, which will be sold at the Rotary pop-up shop.
"Dunedin’s book lovers can be assured of a terrific range of great books."
Dunedin Central Rotary Club public relations director Sue Mackinlay said proceeds from the sale would be shared equally between the Dunedin Central Rotary Club for Rotary community projects, and the Regent Theatre to help it through the post-Covid economic decline.
"The funds will help see it through this most challenging year, when the theatre’s income has been literally zero since March."
To raise further funds, a smaller-scale Christmas sale is planned for December 4 and 5 at the Regent Theatre, where the focus will be on good-as-new books, children’s toys and games, and other items suitable as Christmas gifts.
The pop-up shop will be open seven days a week, including late on Thursdays, while book supplies last.
