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Good news for Ottawa’s Books on Beechwood

Ottawa’s Books on Beechwood has been saved from closing thanks to the last-minute intervention of an anonymous supporter.

The independent bookstore, located in Ottawa’s New Edinburgh neighbourhood, had been scheduled to close at the end of January as owner Jean Barton prepared to retire. However, the Ottawa Citizen reports that an “undisclosed customer” and two unnamed partners have stepped forward to rescue the business. All five part-time staff will keep their jobs.

From the Citizen:

Barton, who opened the store 18 years ago, announced in September that falling sales and the slow recovery of the surrounding business area from a fire left her with no choice but to close the doors of one of Ottawa’s few remaining independent bookstores.

Barton said customers shouldn’t expect the store to change much once the new owners take over.

“They want it to be as seamless as possible,” she said of the transition. “The only change is they are going to get a new carpet.”

Ottawa has been hit hard by bookstore closures in 2012, with Mother Tongue Books and Nicholas Hoare both closing shop. Collected Works also plans to shut its doors if a buyer can’t be found before Dec. 24.

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