Oh drats, this is too bad. Little Otsu, that charming store on Valencia Street that sells equally charming stuff (comics, wallets, DIY stuff, vegetable-based ink publishing), is closing its doors. "Eight years seems like a nice, round number," co-owner Jeremy Crown tells Mission Local. "That's going to make running the store the longest job that either of us has ever had."

In its place will sprout a McSweeney's venture, presumably another book-sniffing Eggers-ian effort that, in the end, will serve to promote the local author's unyielding altruism shtick. ML goes on to explain, "Little Otsu will close its store on Valencia Street this December, to be replaced by a storefront for Scholar Match, an 826 Valencia-associated project that uses a Kiva-like microfinancing site to raise money for students who need help paying for college."

Sweet Jesus.

Anyway, be sure to stop by the Valencia Street store to say 'thank you' while picking up a few treasures. Owners Crown and Yvonne Chen are super friendly and knowledgeable. But fear not. Once it's gone, you can visit Little Otsu online.

Little Otsu, 849 Valencia Street (at 19th Street), 11:30 a.m.-7:30 p.m., 415-255-7900

[via Mission Mission]