Shree Summerlin has purchased Hills & Hamlets Bookshop in Serenbe, a planned community in Chattahoochee Hills, Ga., from original owners Megan Bell and Josh Niesse.
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"I'm thrilled to be taking over Hills & Hamlets," Summerlin said. She praised Niesse and Bell for their work "curating a wonderful collection of books that the community has enjoyed for nearly 10 years," adding that she is "excited to be continuing in their footsteps."
Prior to taking over Hills & Hamlets, Summerlin was a customer there, and over the span of about three years had gotten to know one of the booksellers on staff. It was that same bookseller who told Summerlin that the owners were looking to sell, and the rest was a matter of "right time, right place."
Hills & Hamlets, which Bell and Niesse opened in 2016, sells titles for all ages across a range of genres, including literary fiction, food, photography, sustainability, architecture, art, and interior design. Serenbe is a community focused on health, wellness, and nature.
"I'm so excited to be starting this new venture," Summerlin said. "I look forward to collaborating with authors and publishers to create events and cultivate discussions around literacy and to continue to bring joy to the community."
Niesse and Bell were also the owners of Underground Books in Carrolton, Ga., which they sold earlier this year to store manager Anna Anabseh Clark. The physical store has been renamed Underground Bookshop, while Bell and Niesse will continue to operate Underground Books as an online rare and antiquarian business.