Kidstop Toys & Books in Scottsdale, Ariz., reopened last weekend under new ownership after closing in February, WBRC reported. Kristen Roehmer, a "lifelong customer" of Kidstop, has purchased the store from previous owner Kate Tanner, who decided to close the book and toy store last December.
In her announcement late last year, Tanner explained that increased rent, inflation, and the lingering effects of the Covid-19 pandemic had combined to make the store's financial situation difficult. At the same time, the store had been on the market for "quite a few months" without Tanner being able to find a buyer. She chose to retire and close the store early in 2023.
Roehmer recalled that she saw the closing sign go up and thought, "What is happening to Kidstop?" Shortly afterward she called Tanner and "within a few hours" the deal was complete. Roehmer told WBRC that "great people in the community" stepped up and made the deal possible. A banker offered Roehmer to help with ordering new inventory and restocking the shelves, while an attorney helped renegotiate a more favorable lease with the property owner. Now, she continued, she feels "so optimistic" about the store's future.
Tanner is helping Roehmer with the transition and noted that customers are "so excited" that the bookstore is coming back. Before the outpouring of support, Tanner had "never realized Kidstop was that big a part of the community." She added, while tearing up: "touching."