Former lawyer Kirstin Gulling is "making good on a dream she had as a law student in the early 1990s" by purchasing the Bookies bookstore in Denver, Colo., from Nicole Sullivan, who will stay on through the end of 2025 to assist with the transition, BusinessDen reported. Gulling took over operations effective July 1.
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| Kirstin Gulling, new owner of Denver's The Bookies. | |
"The hard work of turning the business around is mostly behind us," noted Sullivan, who also owned BookBar in the city's Berkeley neighborhood before closing it in 2023.
Sullivan had assumed ownership of the Bookies in 2021--after the death of founder Sue Lubeck--and moved it from Glendale to the current 7,000-square-foot location at 2085 S. Holly St. last year to gain more visibility and provide room for growth. Sullivan had been looking for a buyer since March.
"I've so enjoyed putting my skills and knowledge to use to set this beloved, iconic Denver bookstore up for success for years to come. I believe Kirstin is the right person to take it from here. Her enthusiasm, passion, and expertise will carry the Bookies into its next 50 years," said Sullivan. "The next step is to grow sales and get customers in the door and back in the door. I think Kirstin's going to be really good at that. New energy, fresh pair of eyes, and also hands-on."
Gulling's vision for the Bookies is rooted in warmth, inclusivity, and a passionate commitment to literacy and education. "This isn't just a business to me. It's a promise that the Bookies will flourish for another 50 years and beyond while staying true to the things that make it so special," she said, adding: "It's exciting in all the ways, especially because I have something to build on. There's a talented community of people who already work and visit here."
Gulling also observed that the Bookies' mission fits with her own: "You have this long legacy of the bookstore being for educators and young children, and, under Nicole's leadership, into more of a community space. It's my community. I live down the street, literally over a mile away, and I would love to help it expand on what Nicole has already done here.... My vision is to keep the Bookies a warm, welcoming place."
She added: "This place has been around for a little over 50 years, and my main goal is to have it go for another 50 years. I'm open to trying everything to make this place stick around."