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, […]
Bookstores
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 […]
People, Etc.
Helen Richard O’Hare will join Mulholland Books and Little, Brown as editor starting February 3. She was formerly associate editor at Putnam. Randi Kramer has been promoted to assistant editor at Celadon Books. At St. Martin’s Meghan Harrington has been promoted to publicist and Clare Mauer to associate publicist. At Scholastic Trade, Mary Kate Garmire has joined as production editor. She was previously development editor at Oxford University Press. Jake Snyder has joined as production editor. He was previously at SaveAround where he managed the production of fundraising publications. Shannon Pender has been promoted to marketing associate, young adult. Caroline Noll becomes […]
Winter Institute: What Booksellers Need the Most
The ABA convened yet another vibrant and successful Winter Institute, which featured ever-expanded programming and attendance, all substantially underwritten by supporting publishers, as was acknowledged at Thursday afternoon’s Town Hall meeting. If you were listening carefully, however, there is really one issue that matters the most to independent booksellers: Turning this “higher calling” into a truly viable, profitable profession. You heard it in incoming ABA ceo Allison Hill’s brief remarks at the beginning of WI: “Running our businesses is increasingly a challenge, and I believe this moment in time is a critical one for our industry…. The measure of our […]