Rival employees help bookstore stay in business

SAN DIEGO, California -- Employees from neighboring bookstores stepped in to help a competing store keep its doors open in a time of need.

Jennifer Powell and her husband Seth Marko opened The Book Catapult in San Diego about a year ago.

As Eyewitness News reports, the couple discovered Marko needed emergency open-heart surgery in January.

Marko made it out okay, but was in no shape to work. Neither could Powell, since she needed to take care of him and their three-year-old daughter.

That's when colleagues from other bookstores decided to staff the shop, free of charge, until they could get back on their feet.

"Everybody really kind of jumped into action, like almost immediately, which is really wonderful because then we were literally only closed for a day," said Powell.

Powell says she and her husband are touched by the outpouring of support.

"I think he would probably say 'I don't know how to thank you,' but I will probably spend the rest of my life trying to," Powell said. "From our customers to our friends to our volunteer staff, just thank you," she said smiling.