Book Mountain, which sells used and new books in Santa Fe, N.Mex., has been put on the market by owner Peggy Frank, who "plans to give the store away at no charge," KRQE reported. Frank has been managing her bookstore since 1980, when she got into the business after a car accident left her disabled.
Now she is looking for a new owner, noting: "My health is not going to get any better. At age 83, we don't really get better."
She is "giving people a Willy Wonka-like experience by trying to find someone who can take it all over," KRQE noted.
"Well, the catch is you're going to have to work," said Frank, who is seeking someone who enjoys working with people and has a positive attitude, along with a very specific skill. "They need to know the alphabet," she added. "I do have a reputation in town for being very exacting and hard-nosed. Well, I'm sorry I'm not going to negotiate the alphabet with anybody."
Noting that she is in no hurry to give up the store and that she plans to help the new owner, Frank said: "We're talking about the spirit of reading, and you can't put a price tag on spirit."