Tim Huggins, who founded Newtonville Books, Newton, Mass., in 1998, has
sold the store to Mary Cotton, a former employee who is receiving a
Master's degree in English literature from Boston University this year
and is publisher and managing editor of the literary magazine Post Road, according to an announcement on the store's Web site.
Cotton said she acted after hearing that the store would be closing, saying in a statement, "Over the years, Tim has built a well-respected cultural institution in service of the community, and when I realized that the creativity and intellectualism that flowed through the store was about to be staunched for good, I wanted to do something about it."
She plans to make some changes, adding a customer loyalty program, discounts on select titles, book clubs, writing workshops and "maybe even a film series of movies based on books." The store will also begin carrying "gently used" books.
Cotton is married to Jaime Clarke, a writer and founding editor of Post Road. The pair met at the store, which Cotton said, "has served as the headquarters for Post Road since the magazine's inception." She plans "to integrate" the magazine and store as much as possible. "I want the bookstore to continue to be a home to readers and writers alike."
Huggins, who developed an extensive events program at the store, said that this was the right time to sell. "I felt that the bookstore had arrived at a place where it needed something more and different than I could provide to help it reach the next level of sustainability. This sale is a rare situation where needs and opportunities matched perfectly. I find great comfort in knowing that Mary has the right passion, energy, abilities and commitment."
Newtonville Books closed on Monday and reopens tomorrow. It'll have a celebratory 20% off sale through Sunday and plans a grand reopening reception on Sunday, March 4.
Newtonville Books is located at 296 Walnut St., Newton, Mass. 02460; 617-244-6619.
Cotton said she acted after hearing that the store would be closing, saying in a statement, "Over the years, Tim has built a well-respected cultural institution in service of the community, and when I realized that the creativity and intellectualism that flowed through the store was about to be staunched for good, I wanted to do something about it."
She plans to make some changes, adding a customer loyalty program, discounts on select titles, book clubs, writing workshops and "maybe even a film series of movies based on books." The store will also begin carrying "gently used" books.
Cotton is married to Jaime Clarke, a writer and founding editor of Post Road. The pair met at the store, which Cotton said, "has served as the headquarters for Post Road since the magazine's inception." She plans "to integrate" the magazine and store as much as possible. "I want the bookstore to continue to be a home to readers and writers alike."
Huggins, who developed an extensive events program at the store, said that this was the right time to sell. "I felt that the bookstore had arrived at a place where it needed something more and different than I could provide to help it reach the next level of sustainability. This sale is a rare situation where needs and opportunities matched perfectly. I find great comfort in knowing that Mary has the right passion, energy, abilities and commitment."
Newtonville Books closed on Monday and reopens tomorrow. It'll have a celebratory 20% off sale through Sunday and plans a grand reopening reception on Sunday, March 4.
Newtonville Books is located at 296 Walnut St., Newton, Mass. 02460; 617-244-6619.