As part of the ongoing effort to open a new chapter at Kepler's Books, the iconic Menlo Park bookstore will close for six weeks starting July 1. Plans are to use the downtime to remodel the store, located at 1010 El Camino Real, said spokesman Patrick Corman.

Look for a new layout and fresh inventory when the store reopens. Staff will also have new computer systems and training, according to keplers2020.com.

Author readings scheduled for July will be relocated or postponed if possible, otherwise the store might open its doors briefly for specific events, the website said.

Meanwhile, the store will continue to sell books online.

Transition team leader Praveen Madan, a partner of Booksmith in San Francisco and Berkeley Arts and Letters, announced a fundraising campaign in May that aimed to raise $1 million by the end of summer. So far donors have contributed $650,000.

The long-term goal is to create a for-profit, community-owned bookstore alongside a nonprofit organization that offers an expanded slate of author events, workshops, and other resources. With that in mind, the transition team set about eliminating about $1 million in old debt and streamlining operations so that the bookstore is already making a small profit, according to Mr. Madan.

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