Discontinued: Ralph’s Discount City, Gotham Book Mart, Morris Brothers, Global Ink

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In the mood for a bit of black on an otherwise sunny, summery day? Let's turn to some shop closings around town. If you've noticed a retailer failing, fill us in.

1) Midtown East: No one likes to see a bookstore go, but the shuttering of Gotham Book Mart at 16 East 46th Street was especially grim. The store's owner, in debt to a landlord, was forced to auction off the Mart's wares, all of which were purchased in one fell swoop—a $400,000 bid—by the landlord (the photo above is of the line to enter the auction). Bonus depressing quotage from the Times, "Some who attended the auction lamented the fact that a benefactor had not appeared. “The poets!” said Mr. Hearn, the longtime patron. “Did any of them come out and support him?” Gretchen Adkins, a friend of Mr. Hearn’s, responded, “A lot of them are dead.” [NY Times]

2) Tribeca: Ralph’s Discount City, which we glean from Downtown Express was one of the last great cheapie grocery/convenience stores south of Canal Street, has closed up shop for good. The store, located at 91-95 Chambers Street, will be torn down to make way for a 6-story condo building from developer S. Myles Group. [Downtown Express]

3) Upper West Side: A moment of silence: Over 55-year-old clothing retailer Morris Brothers has passed on. The store, which was known for its affordable children's clothing, was forced out due to rent increases. NY Mag rubs some salt in the wound with this smarty-pants kicker, "No word yet on what'll set up shop there once the sale ends in July, but we'd be happy to start a pool: bank branch, Starbucks, or nail salon? Heck, it's a big enough space, maybe all three!" [Oxfeld]

4) Upper West Side: Blame print media's slow death for the demise of Global Ink, a magazine shop in Morningside Heights. That, and of course, the rents. [Oxfeld]