Alison Reid and John Evans have found a buyer for the Diesel bookstore in Brentwood, Calif., which they put up for sale just a year ago. Richard and Heather Turner are taking over ownership of the store this Thursday, August 1. Reid and Evans, who will help with the transition, continue to own the Diesel bookstore in San Diego, in Del Mar, which they will rename Camino Books "over the next couple months." They had put that store up for sale in 2022 and have several interested parties but don't anticipate a sale until next year.
In a statement to customers about the sale of the Brentwood store, which they founded in 2008, Reid and Evans wrote in part, "We are pleased to announce that we have found the right buyers for the store, and they've found us!... We are so excited to work to help them keep the store as good as you've come to expect and to take it forward into the future. All of your favorite booksellers will be continuing to work in the store.
"At this time we want to express our appreciation for your support, in so many ways, throughout these 16 years. We are grateful for your sticking with us through thick and thin, through the pandemic especially, for being able to be a part of this wonderful community of passionate readers. It has been a pleasure to talk books, and all else, with you and to share the book world."
Since 1989, Reid and Evans have opened five bookstores, all in California. In 2017, they sold the Oakland store to longtime manager Brad Johnson; it's now called East Bay Booksellers. They've also had stores in Larkspur and Malibu.