Books on Beechwood, Ottawa, Can., was slated to close next month, but "will instead be starting a new chapter come February," the Citizen reported. Owner Jean Barton has reached an agreement to sell the store to an undisclosed customer and two partners., who will assume ownership on January 31. All current staff members will be staying on, as will Barton for a short time. Three Ottawa bookstores announced closures this year, including most recently Collected Works.
"Everybody is thrilled," said Barton, who opened the store 18 years ago. "I'm thrilled because I can retire; the staff is thrilled because they can continue working here. They all love it. And the neighborhood is just ecstatic." She added that the new owners want the transition "to be as seamless as possible. The only change is they are going to get a new carpet."
Bookseller Jill Moll called the news "such an uplifting thing to happen. Independent bookstores don't suddenly stay open. It just doesn't happen.... It's not just about this bookstore, it's about what a community has done to keep a bookstore here. I can't tell you how many times people come in and say 'I'm buying books here to keep you open.' "
