New Canaan Book Shop to Close; Store in Roslindale Opens

The 43-year-old New Canaan Book Shop in New Canaan, Conn., is the latest independent to announce its closing. But unlike most stores, this one didn't fall victim to the usual suspects—competition from online retailing, chain superstores or discount merchandisers—but rather the vicissitudes of human love and affection. Simply stated, building owner Thomas Whitney declined to renew the lease of the 4,800-square-foot bookstore owned by his soon-to-be-former wife, Marguerite Whitney.

Although Marguerite Whitney did not return PW's calls to her home in Key West, Fla., store manager/buyer John Netzer confirmed that he and the other 20 store employees received pink slips in April. None were offered jobs at Whitney's other bookstore, The Hickory Stick, 55 miles away in Washington Depot, Conn., which will continue to operate. "It's very sad for everyone who worked very hard at the store," Netzer told PW. "People loved the store and the staff. It's the heart of town. It's literally in the middle of a crossroads."

In other regional news, Annie Bauman announced that she opened Village Books in Roslindale, Mass., a suburb of Boston, the first weekend in May. Bauman moved to the area three years ago and worked with Dana Brigham at Brookline Booksmith and Tim Huggins at Newtonville Books to gain firsthand bookselling experience. "At the time, Dana wasn't really hiring, but she felt it was important to help younger booksellers. Tim explained all the details," said Bauman, who credits them and other area retailers for being "so generous."

Bauman described the 900-square-foot general store as "a shrunken Brookline Booksmith with a courtyard in the back." She plans to focus primarily on adult fiction, kids' books, art and design and cooking. "But there will be a little bit of everything," she added. Like Newtonville Books, Village Books will have the look of a home library; there will be no signage.