What is curious about the fact that Washington D.C. bookshop Politcs & Prose has been put up for sale is that its narrative does not fit into the uncomfortably familiar trajectory of other independent booksellers. In fact, the "For Sale" notice is generating a lot of excitement about what the next owner might do with the unusual place where the political meets the literary in the nation's capital. The shop, incidentally, is profitable and is being sold by its two founders who are in their mid-70s.
(Founder Barbara) Meade said she has already been approached by about 20 potential buyers.
“I think that right now three-quarters of upper northwest Washington is asking themselves, ‘What if I owned Politics and Prose?’” Mr. Foer said.
Another interested group is being led by Nicholas Kittrie, a law professor at American University. Mr. Kittrie said his group includes about 10 people in the publishing, radio and electronic communications industries....
Mr. Kittrie said that the group has substantial financial resources and that some of its members could be interested in turning Politics and Prose into a publishing company as well.
The two owners are selecting a broker who can help them vet prospective buyers and settle on a price. Ms. Meade said she thinks the store is worth “somewhere in the neighborhood of $2 million.”
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