Porter Square Books in Cambridge, MA has been put up for sale after more than nine years in business, as its owners are looking to retire. “We’ve really been able to establish Porter Square Books as a vital community institution,” bookstore president Carol Stoltz told WickedLocal. “We have embraced e-books, author events, sidelines and even a café — all things a successful book store needs to have in the 21st century.” Porter Square added they have allocated “a significant timeframe to find just the right next owner of the store.” At least three scheduled appearances at Barnes & Noble stores […]
Bookstores
People, Distribution, Etc.
Little, Brown Children’s publisher Megan Tingley has been made executive vice president. At Grand Central, associate publisher Emi Battaglia has been named vp, marketing director in tandem with her current position, which she has held for the past eight years. President and publisher Jamie Raab writes, “it reflects Emi’s expanding role as chief strategist of our marketing efforts.” In addition, associate publisher at Twelve Brian McLendon will take on duties as associate publisher for Grand Central, “working hand in glove with Emi to orchestrate our marketing efforts and implement marketing plans perfectly tailored to the needs of our books, authors […]
BN Dismissed Palo Alto Executive
In Barnes & Noble’s quarterly SEC filings, the company included a severance agreement with executive vice president, Operations and Customer Service, Dan Gilbert, who was terminated effective February 1. Gilbert was based in their Palto Alto, CA office. The company has not announced a replacement for Gilbert, and told us in response to a query that “his responsibilities have been divided among other executives.” Hired in 2010 from Cisco, he reported directly to ceo William Lynch and was responsible for “supply and demand planning, sourcing, manufacturing, operations, distribution and logistics related to digital devices including management of the Digital Products Operations […]
Bookselling: Book Stall Finds Owner
Roberta Rubin, owner of the Book Stall in Winnetka, IL, has completed the “exit strategy” she began formulating last May. After telling the Chicago Tribune in November that she was “in conversations with three prospective buyers,” PW reports that Stephanie Hochschild has signed a letter of intent to take over the store on June 1. As with many other bookstore sales, Rubin was assisted by Paz & Associates. Separately, Indianapolis-area store Mudsocks will close in early April after five years in business. Owner Cindy Rushton says, “Every year we lose less money, but I’m still losing money. People can go […]
Bookselling: Booked for Murder For Sale; Between The Covers Gets New Owner
Booked for Murder in Madison, WI is up for sale, as owner Sara Barnes is leaving the city to care for ailing parents in Minnesota. Barnes, who bought the store from previous owners in 2008, told the Daily Page she “has heard just ‘echoes of niblets’ from potentially interested buyers. The store’s best prospect may be “a consortium of friends who love books.” Owner of Harper Springs, MI-based bookstore Between the Covers Jeanne Regentin, has sold the store to Katie Capaldi after more than 10 years, Shelf Awareness reports. Capaldi is a bookseller and the daughter of the store’s children’s […]
Riggio Offers to Buy BN Stores, Subject to Negotiation
Following advance notice Sunday night in the WSJ, early Monday morning Barnes & Noble announced that Len Riggio “notified the board…he plans to propose to purchase all of the assets of the retail business”–comprising the BN superstores, and the BN.com web site. “Riggio plans to make the proposal in order to facilitate the company’s evaluation of its previously announced review of strategic options for the separation of its investment in Nook Media.” The price is subject to negotiation with the board, and “is currently contemplated to be comprised primarily of cash consideration and the assumption of certain liabilities of the […]