After Long Search, Sam Weller’s Finds New Home

This week, Catherine and Tony Weller announced that, after a two-year search for a new location, they have signed a lease and will be moving Sam Weller’s Books to Salt Lake City’s Trolley Square shopping and entertainment complex in the fall.

In a statement, the couple said that they were initially resistant to leasing, but that Trolley Square, located at the corner of 600 South and 700 East in Salt Lake City, had won them over.

”We will be particularly pleased to join fine local businesses such as Tabula Rasa, Desert Edge Brewery, The Secret Garden, Cabin Fever, and others,” the Wellers said. “We hope that ongoing leasing efforts will recognize the economic benefits and cultural advantages of locally owned businesses.”

The bookstore will be at the southern edge of Trolley Square in 10,000 square feet that formerly housed movie theaters. An adjacent atrium will provide space for large author events. Plans call for the bookstore to include a coffee shop or eatery, and free parking is available throughout the complex.

“We are relieved to finally have a property deal we feel good about,” said the Wellers, who are now starting on the design and buildout phase for the bookstore’s new location.

No determinations have been made about a final moving date.

In March 2009, the Wellers announced plans to move Sam Weller’s from the 40,000-square-foot location at 254 South Main Street in Salt Lake, where it has operated since 1961.

”Though we will leave our Main Street home of 50 years with a certain sadness,” the Wellers said, “we are excited to embrace the possibilities of designing a new millennial bookstore. We have considered our bookselling heritage, the evolving book industry and the effects of computers and digitization in conceiving of our future bookstore. From design to inventory, from staff to events we have put our experience to work to plan a bookstore that will be a friendly and interesting place to visit and a source for the books discerning readers expect Weller’s to supply.”