Beloved Bookstore Owners Ready to Start New Chapter
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Imprint Bookstore goes up for sale on Tuesday, July 2nd. Photo by Nhatt Nichols [/caption]
After five tumultuous years, Imprint Bookstore owners Samantha Ladwig and Thom Nienow have decided to sell the beloved bookstore and writing workshop space.
From the beginning, Ladwig and Nienow knew they wanted to give the bookstore their all for five years and then reevaluate their feelings about running the business. After much discussion, they were ready to move on.
“It feels very clear to me,” Ladwig said. “We're ready to pass it on to somebody who's more enthusiastic than either of us.”
Ladwig and Nienow bought Imprint Bookstore and the Writer’s Workshoppe from Anna and Peter Quinn in 2019, who had run the bookshop since 2008. Imprint has been at 820 Water Street since 1981.
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Co-owner Samantha Ladwig is excited to find new ways to interact with the community. Photo by Nhatt Nichols. [/caption]
Buying a bookstore in 2019 gave them little time to learn the ropes before reinventing everything for COVID. “I think it took the wind out of our sails. Only this year have we felt like we're on stable ground; it's fairly predictable in terms of sales and buying habits. And people are more relaxed than they've been during the COVID years.” according to Ladwig. For her, it feels important to let go of the business before she and Nienow, her husband, are completely burnt out.
When asked what she hopes the new owner will be able to bring to the bookstore, Ladwig expressed hope for someone enthusiastic about reaching a variety of readers and writers. “Over the last five years, we've seen a wide variety of readers who enjoy coming in. It's not just poets; it's not just serious literary people. A lot of people who come in just want a romance or something light. Thom, the people we hire for booksellers, and I feel like it's very inviting for everybody, so I hope whoever takes it on next can also maintain that. One of my favorite things is seeing how comfortable people can be when they come here and don't feel excluded.”
The business will officially be for sale on Tuesday, July 2nd, but neither Ladwig nor Nienow is in a rush to find the right person. For them, it’s a community business, and as they plan on staying in the community, they want to ensure the store is in the right hands.
Ladwig isn’t ready to share what the future has in store for them, though she wants to become more involved with the Port Townsend Film Festival and a local soup kitchen, where her mother-in-law volunteers.
“I feel we've been so public these last five years,” she said. “ I want to keep our next steps to ourselves. I'm going to keep writing; I'll be teaching. That's not going to change as we move into a less public role.”
Nicole Persun, who writes under the name Jennifer Gold, launched several of her books at Imprint and taught through the Writer’s Workshoppe. “Sam and Thom took the helm of the Imprint right as my career was taking off, and it has been such a pleasure to have their support through the launch of four of my novels. As a reader and writer, I have valued their passionate and meticulous care for our community's love of books. My hope is that the next steward of this community institution brings at least half the smarts and dedication they have brought to the Imprint over the past five years.”
The sale notice does not affect the store’s operation. You can still browse for books, attend reading events, and participate in writing workshops, including the launch of Persun’s latest book, Polite Calamities, which will be held at Imprint on Saturday, July 27th, at 5.30 pm.
Those interested in purchasing Imprint Bookstore and the Writer’s Workshoppe should contact Sophie Elan at Windermere Real Estate.
