One BookHampton Store Changes Hands, Now Named Southampton Books
Charline Spektor, the BookHampton owner who recently announced she planned on closing both of her shops after this coming holiday season, said Thursday that she has found buyers to purchase the Southampton Village location and maintain its use as a bookstore.
A message shared on the Bookhampton Facebook page Thursday read, “Okay! The “White Knights of Southampton” arrived! Yesterday, I was delighted to sell BookHampton- South to Daniel Hirsch and Gregory Harris our own two great Southampton booksellers ! They teamed up & will be opening their new bookshop ( same location : 16 Hampton Rd.) this weekend!! I couldn’t be prouder of those guys- they’re going to keep the tradition of great books going in Southampton. Now we are just looking for a Great neighbor to take over our beloved East Hampton store !”
Hirsch, of Water Mill, said Friday afternoon that he and Harris, of Sag Harbor, began talks with Spektor in October when they learned of her intention to retire from the business.
“We love books and we love Southampton, and we did’t want to see the town without a bookstore,” Hirsch said.
They closed the deal on Wednesday, taking over the lease and acquiring some of the inventory. The new name of the store is Southampton Books. The venture also folds in Harris’s business that he founded in 2008, Restaurant of the Mind Books.
“We merged the two business and we now are going to be selling, rare, collectible, first edition and signed books,” Hirsch said.
The storefront at 16 Hampton Road will undergo some renovations as Hirsch and Harris add their personal touches. Southampton Books is currently open seven days a week.
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If no one takes over the East Hampton store by the end of the year, it could close for good, leaving East Hampton Village without a bookstore.