Two bookstores in Juneau, Alaska, are for sale, Juneau Empire reported.
Hearthside Books owners Susan Hickey and Deb Reifenstein, who founded the store in 1975, are "now on a path to retirement," they wrote in a public letter. "This may take a year or two but we are now officially looking for a buyer for our business. Neither of us is leaving Juneau and will continue to keep Hearthside's two locations operating throughout this process.... We are not closing but are now actively looking for someone who loves books and being their own boss to keep Hearthside Books going for another 38 years!"
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| photo: Chris Wolak | |
They added: "There are no words to express our gratitude for Juneau's loyalty over all of these years, only emotion. Meeting and getting to know so many authors and readers has enriched our lives daily. Hearing about your latest passion for a new book is so rewarding. We hope we have helped when we have put the right book in your hands at the right moment in your lives. It's been a joy watching your lives change and meeting your relatives when they have come to Juneau, getting to know your children and celebrating other exciting events.
According to the paper, Reifenstein wants to travel more, spend more time with her grandchildren and pursue other interests such as oil painting. Among other things, Hickey wants to read more.
Also in Juneau, Toni and Don Birdseye plan to sell Rainy Retreat Books, the new, used and rare bookstore they've owned for 12 years.
Toni told the paper that the best part of the business is "the customers. Finding out what they're interested in and trying to put them together with a book that will answer their questions." She called Juneau readers eclectic, although the store's "bread and butter" is paperback fiction in all genres. For tourists, she said, Alaska books are most popular.