India’s Largest Crossword Store in Pune’s Aundh Shuts Down, Leaving Book Lovers Heartbroken
Pune’s literary landscape has dimmed as the city’s beloved three-storey Crossword bookstore in Aundh has officially shut its doors. Once known as India’s largest Crossword store, this iconic space on ITI Road had been a haven for book lovers, hosting book launches by celebrated authors and serving as a sanctuary for those who found solace in turning pages rather than scrolling screens.
A Nostalgic Farewell
A viral video on X (formerly Twitter) captured the heartbreaking moment when the store’s sign was taken down, marking the end of an era. The user who posted the video shared a deeply emotional message about his personal connection to the store, recalling the cherished visits with his daughter.
The first word my daughter learned to speak was ‘book’. With wide eyes, she would point at a book and say ‘boo’ in a voice full of glee. We began taking her to a nearby Crossword bookshop (in Aundh, Pune) when she could barely walk. Our trips soon became a cherished… pic.twitter.com/qLWcDIINIJ
— Viraj Kulkarni (@VirajZero) January 27, 2025
“The first word my daughter learned to speak was ‘book’,” he wrote, reminiscing about their monthly trips to the bookstore. Over the years, however, the space dedicated to books gradually diminished, making room for a kids’ play area, a toy shop, cafes, stationery, and event spaces. Yet, their tradition of buying three books every month endured—until they arrived to find the doors shut for good.
Describing his devastation, he added, “A man on a ladder was ripping out the Crossword sign. Slowly. Methodically. As he pulled out one letter after another, I felt a physical sensation of pain. My daughter had tears in her eyes. A glowing light somewhere was snuffed out, and the world became slightly darker.”
An Unfortunate Shift in Reading Culture
This closure highlights a larger issue – declining reading habits in the digital age. Many netizens resonated with the sentiment, calling it “unfortunate” and sharing their own memories of the store.
“I know this store. It was a landmark. While I also know the brand is being revived by new owners (Pune-based, interestingly), economics and changing reading habits are forcing a relook at real estate costs,” one user commented.
Another lamented, “So true… will truly miss the Aundh Crossword, used to spend hours there on weekends!”
A third user reflected, “I used to visit this place every weekend. It’s been seven years since I shifted out of Aundh, but I still can feel the pain while watching the name Crossword getting stripped.”
A Changing Literary Landscape
The closure of such a prominent bookstore is a stark reminder of how digital consumption is reshaping our cultural habits. While bookstores struggle against rising real estate costs and shifting consumer behaviors, book lovers are left yearning for spaces that celebrate literature.
As the X user poignantly wrote, “A society that does not read is a society that does not know itself.” Whether in brick-and-mortar stores or digital formats, the hope remains that books will continue to find their way into people’s hearts and homes.
