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Maritime Canada’s Bookmark Bookshops for Sale
Printer-friendly versionBookmark is the longest-running independent bookstore in the Atlantic region of Canada, and its two locations, in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, and Halifax, Nova Scotia, are now up for sale.
Tarra Drevet and Charla Jones are looking to see the stores pass into new hands after their father, Rodney Jones, the founder and owner of both Bookmark locations, died suddenly last year. They hope to pass the store to a new owner who will continue their father’s legacy of serving two loyal communities.
Jones opened Bookmark in Charlottetown in 1972 as a way to help support his growing family. “He was sort of a self-learner,” said Drevet. “He didn’t enjoy university or working in the corporate world; he wanted to be an entrepreneur.” An avid reader, Jones quickly determined that a bookstore would suit Charlottetown’s community and began his work.
Opening the store on the historic Victoria Row in Charlottetown, Jones worked with the local Small Business Association to build the street into an attractive shopping and dining district, with its cobblestoned roadway open only to pedestrians. The store later moved around the corner to busy Queen Street, where it remains a popular stop to this day. “People come in religiously on a daily basis to pick up their newspapers and chat,” said Drevet.
Bookmark came to serve as an essential venue to promote works from local publishers and writers, and Jones’ commitment to the industry will be missed by them, said Drevet. Jones, who served as president of the Canadian Booksellers Association in the 1980s, has been credited with helping launch the publishing industry in the provinces. Bookmark was known for carrying books from local publishers and writers and featuring them in the store windows, which was the highest of honors. “It was a big deal as an author to get into the front window, and book signings were always full,” said Drevet.
As Bookmark grew in its success, Jones saw an opportunity to set up a shop in Halifax, opening Bookmark II in a chic shopping district in 1989. Jones continued in his work to remain dedicated to the surrounding communities, and even beat out a box bookstore that moved in across the street from the shop in the 1990s. “I was so scared for him in the first year, but what he said is, ‘This is creating a little network. People will know to come here for books,’” said Drevet. When the chain left, Bookmark remained.
The bookstores and their staff continue to be loved by their customers, said Jones’ daughters. “Without them, there would be a hole in both towns,” said Charla Jones. Over the years, the bookstores made regional and national publications and best-of lists, and have been recognized for their customer service.
With Jones’ passing, his remaining family and shareholders have decided to sell the business, and Jones’ daughters want to see his hard work and love for the communities live on through the bookstores. “It would be awfully nice to see the spirit continue,” said Charla Jones. Between the strong sales and the staff, “he built up such an incredible brand. It’s a well-oiled machine.”
Drevet and Jones are looking for new owners who can bring passion and energy to the business and who will keep Bookmark’s strong connection with the community. They want to find potential buyers who share their late father’s commitment to the local cultures and economies of each city and to hometown authors and publishers. “This is an opportunity. It’s a great package,” said Charla Jones.
Interested buyers can contact Wayne Carew at MRSB Mergers & Acquisitions at (902) 432-2307 or [email protected].