After seven years, our beloved indie book store, Diesel, is closing. One look at the photo above, which is how things have looked for several months, including the critical holiday shopping season, tells one part of the story.

The rest includes new ownership of the shopping center where Diesel is located, ownership which chased out so many businesses, the place turned into a ghost town. Add in a spike in fees, a protracted legal skirmish, the recession and, well, you've got a 30 percent off sale to kick off Diesel's demise.

The Brentwood store, located in the beautifully-managed and thriving Country Mart, remains open. Ditto for the Oakland location. And ever the optimists, owners John Evans and Alison Reid say they haven't given up hope of finding a new spot here in Malibu.

Meanwhile, here's hoping some of the store's deep-pocketed customers have the sense and compassion to throw a benefit to help defray the considerable costs of losing a business.