Elizabeth Mendez Berry has joined One World as vice president and executive editor. She was previously with the Nathan Cummings Foundation, where she was the director of their arts and media portfolio. Gabriella Doob has been promoted to editor at Ecco. Lauren Diethelm has joined Random House Children’s as production associate. She was previously production assistant at professional sports publications. Bebe Barrow has joined Chronicle Books as sales operations coordinator. Lizz Skelly will join Bonnier Books UK as head of publicity for children’s books on February 17 (she is currently at PRH UK), and Emma Quick joins the company today […]
Bookstores
People, Etc.
Quarto has hired Polly Powell, owner of what now operates as Pavilion Books, as chief executive officer of the company’s UK operations, and executive director of the company. Powell had been working as an advisor to lead owner CK Lau since this past October. Andrea Giunti Lombardo, whose family bought 6.2 million shares in Quarto in its recent capital raise, has also joined the board, as non-executive director of the company. He replaces Michael Mousley. Powell said, “I am excited to be joining the Board of Quarto. I have enormous respect for CK, and I think that having Italian publisher and […]
MacArthur Lashes Out At Landlords, Says His Bid with Shakespeare and Company Was Called their “First Choice”
If you had heard that Shakespeare & Co. was negotiating to occupy the Book Culture space on Columbus Avenue as we had, you’re not alone. Following news that The Strand will take over the space, former partner of Book Culture for that location John R. MacArthur was surprised as well. He wrote to the landlords, noting, “I’m obviously disappointed that you leased the former Book Culture on Columbus space to The Strand, particularly since you all repeatedly stated that my joint bid with Shakespeare and Company was your ‘first choice.’ As Tim and Bob [Quinlan] both told me, Encarnita Quinlan, […]
The Strand to Take Over Former Book Culture Space on Columbus Avenue
The Strand Bookstore announced that it will open a new location in March, occupying the space on the Upper West Side’s Columbus Avenue that was seized by the landlord for back rent owed by the previous tenant. Book Culture. The store said on Twitter, “We’re thrilled to bring all of our Strand goodness to such a vibrant community.” Landlord Tim Quinlan had said in January, “Our intention is to keep that space as a bookstore and we’re working hard to do that. It just won’t be Chris [Doeblin] at the helm.” In a press release, the Strand said the new […]
Business: Quarto Completes Capital Raise, More Dirt, and Australia’s Co-op Stores to Close
As expected, Quarto completed its secondary share offer, raising $16.7 million in net proceeds. They say existing shareholders took 57 percent of the new shares, with the Giunti family taking a significant stake and CK Lau filling the rest of the offer. The Giuntis did acquire 6.2 million shares as planned. (Update: It was confirmed later in a filing at the end of February that Lau acquired approximately 9.4 million of the new shares, boosting the stake he controls to 16.27 million shares, or 39.8 percent of the company.) Separately, Australian online bookseller Booktopia has bought the assets of the […]
Briefs: Bookselling, Business and February Picks
Michael Whyte, owner of Whyte’s Booksmith in San Anselmo, CA is looking for a buyer for his store. Whyte stipulates that he will only sell to a buyer who “who will continue to operate the shop as-is.” The bookstore has been in operation for 39 years. The ABA reports that 111 new independent bookstores joined the organization in 2019, up from 99 in 2018. They write, “The new stores include a romance bookstore, a veteran-owned bookstore, a youth-based bookstore, a bookmobile, and 20 branches of existing businesses. In addition, 25 established ABA member stores were bought by new owners; in […]