Book Soup And Vroman’s Book Stores Up For Sale, Owner Vows “No National Retail Chains”
deadline.comCultural landmarks Book Soup and Vroman’s book store in Pasadena are for sale. Vroman’s is the oldest book store in Southern California, founded in 1895 and still owned by the same family.
Owner Joel Sheldon announced on social media Thursday that both stores and another Vroman’s in Hastings Ranch are on the block, along with Book Soup in West Hollywood.
Sheldon, age 80, said he was retiring after 50 years of book selling. “Vroman’s deserves new ownership with the vision, energy, and commitment necessary to take it successfully into the future,” Sheldon wrote on the store’s social media accounts.
Although the sale invokes “a time of some uncertainty,” he also said he had “optimism and excitement for what the future can bring for Vroman’s and our community.” Sheldon told the Pasadena Star-News that 123 employees are at the Pasadena location, with 13 in Hastings Ranch and 18 at Book Soup, the latter a unionized shop that has been in negotiations with Sheldon. “We will take the time needed to find the right new ownership — someone who shares our core values and who is committed to preserving Vroman’s as a community treasure,” the statement continued.
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