Absent a buyer, Stone Soup Books and Café is set to close its doors at the end of the year. Owner Mary Katherine Froelich cites the changing nature of the book industry, with increasing market share going to Amazon.com for hardcovers and paperbacks and the rise of e-books, as the key factor.
“I like to kayak, but I don’t like to land on rocks. We’ve shifted our business model many times,” Froelich told the News Leader for a story published this week.
The business, which Froelich opened in 2006, is up for sale in a package with the 908 W. Main St. property and the store’s inventory at a list price of $495,000.
Froelich isn’t the only person who hopes a buyer will emerge. One group with a vested interest is six employees worked for minimum wage with no benefits in exchange for earning ownership stakes.
Another is a growing local author community that has been able to partner with Stone Soup on book launch parties and discussion group gatherings.
A third is the devoted core of Stone Soup regulars who have been taking to social media since the news about the sale went public this week.
Which suggests that there is a foundation there for a buyer with some fresh ideas on how to build on the base that Froelich has laid down to be able to work with.
“Our vision to be a place to gather and discuss ideas is a great vision,” Froelich said.
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