After 17 years at the helm, co-owners Marion Abbott and Ann Leyhe have put Mrs. Dalloway's Literary & Garden Arts Bookstore in Berkeley, Calif., up for sale.
"It was a personal decision for both of us," Leyhe said. "We've had a great run and now it's time for a new generation of booksellers to take over."
"This is not a fire sale," Abbott added. "We not only survived the pandemic, but in many ways we've come back stronger than before."
They founded the bookstore in 2004 and over the years built a vibrant events program and strong partnerships with local schools and nonprofit organizations in Berkeley. In 2009, after Elmwood Pharmacy & Ozzie's Soda Fountain closed, the bookstore expanded into the space next door, nearly doubling in square footage. Abbott and Leyhe put that space to use expanding the children's department and nonfiction selections.
Leyhe noted that Mrs. Dalloway's has long put a big emphasis on nonbook items and gifts. Those sidelines are related to nature, literature and gardening and include things like artwork, table linens, ceramics, gardening tools, and artisanal teas and jams.
Interested parties can learn more at mrsdalloways.com or e-mail sale@mrsdalloways.com.