Harvard Book Store Up for Sale Generates 'Serious Interest'

Since word spread through the media late last month that Harvard Book Store, the Cambridge, Massachusetts, landmark, was on the market, there has been "a lot of interest, [and] some of it could be serious," said Frank Kramer, the store's owner. "There are a number of interested [potential] buyers, but who knows where it's going to lead."

Kramer notified customers, friends, and supporters about the sale of Harvard Book Store, which celebrated its 75th anniversary last year, via e-mail on Thursday, June 5. Noting that building customer relationships has been the best part of running the bookstore, he wrote: "I am moving on because I've been running the store for 46 years, and it is time for me to do something new. The store is not closing. We have a stellar group of managers, all of whom are planning to remain here." Kramer stressed in the e-mail that he will not sell the store to a chain.

There is no firm timetable in which to sell the store, Kramer told BTW. "It will take as long as it takes -- to find a person [to buy the store] who has a vision for the future," he said. "I'm not in any hurry." He added that he's received many e-mails from customers promising their continued support of the independent bookstore.

After 46 years at the helm of Harvard Book Store, which he took over after his father died, Kramer said the decision to leave was a hard one. "I grew up in this store ... I matured here. Leaving it is a really big deal because it's a part of my family. I remember I used to hear about the store around the dinner table, so it's been a part of my life for a very long time."

Fortunately for Cambridge, even once the store is sold, Kramer still plans to be heavily involved in the community. He said he planning to dedicate more time to Cambridge Local First, an independent business organization that he co-founded that currently boasts 250 members. "It's great meeting and working with independent retailing neighbors," he said. "I'm going to spend more time on [CLF], I really enjoy it. I think communities are better off with local owners running stores. I think we're making headway in letting the world know about [the value of independent businesses to their communities].... I hope to stay connected."

Overall, the recent trend toward localism, Kramer said, is good news for indie bookstores. "We're seeing a lot of change now," he noted. "We're seeing a lot of new local stores open up. The Local First movement is really helping communities realize the value of locally owned stores. This is good for the book business, because they are community centers for learning and growing, and this an opportunity for independents to survive." --David Grogan