Mary Jennings and Lucretia Voigt have bought Mitchell's Book Corner on Nantucket Island, Mass., the Nantucket Independent reported. Mimi Beman, who has owned and operated the store since 1978, will continue to work with the store during the transition.
"This is an incredible opportunity for Lucretia and me," Jennings told the paper. "Books are our passion, and to have a chance to build on such a successful and beloved bookstore is a dream come true. Mimi has created something really special, and we intend to be good stewards of this business."
Voigt, who has owned Brant Point Books, a used bookstore in Nantucket, commented: "Mitchell's Book Corner is a Nantucket landmark. We feel a special responsibility to Mimi and the community to build on what has been established here. Nantucket is a place that loves books, ideas and learning. We are proud to be a part of this community and to contribute to the special character of this town."
At the same time, Wendy Schmidt, president of the Schmidt Family Foundation, has bought the building in which the bookstore is located from Beman and becomes the landlord. The building had been put on the market for $4.5 million in November, according to the Nantucket Inquirer and Mirror.
Schmidt lauded the store for being a vibrant local business and contributing to the community. She added that she intends to make renovations to the building and improve its energy use so that it will be "a model for green renovations in an historic district."
The store was founded by Henry "Mitch" Mitchell and Mary Allen Havemeyer, Beman's parents, in 1968.