Craig Harzinski and Ken Mertes, owners of Bisbee Books & Music in Bisbee, Ariz., are looking for a buyer for their bookstore, the Arizona Daily Star reported.
Located at 2 Main St. in Bisbee, the shop sells new and used books along with vinyl records, art supplies, glass jewelry, and more. There is an emphasis on books by local and regional authors, as well as sections highlighting banned books, Ukraine, and the paranormal. The owners also host events like the Bisbee Artist Series, which features local authors, artists, and craftspeople.
Mertes and Harzinski have owned the bookstore since November of 2018. Prior to moving to Bisbee from Chicago, Ill., they had no plans to own a bookstore and in fact had "never worked in retail" before. But when a local bookstore went up for sale, they felt drawn to it, and conversations with then-owner Carol Lokey convinced them it was a perfect fit.
Mertes told the Daily Star that they are not in a rush to sell the bookstore and intend to take the time to make sure they find the right buyer. "We're proud of what we've done. We think we've brought life to the convention center and the people in town by having a bookstore here. For everybody's sake, it's important to find the right new owners, so if it takes a while? That's OK. We like it here."