BookHampton to Stay Open Through January, When New Owner May Take Over

The last BookHampton store, which is located on Main Street in East Hampton Village, will remain open through the end of January, when a new owner is expected to take over.

Charline Spektor, the current owner, announced in October that she was planning to shutter her two bookstores—the other BookHampton was in Southampton Village—after the holidays. She remained hopeful that someone would step up to purchase the business and continue BookHampton’s legacy. In November, two BookHampton employees agreed to buy the Southampton shop, and they rebranded the business Southampton Books. Spektor said Tuesday that she is close to finalizing a deal with a buyer of the East Hampton store.

It is too early to reveal the buyer’s name, she said, though she described the anticipated new owner as “somebody terrific.” She expects they will exchange keys and checks at the end of January, which is why she is operating the store for one more month than she had originally planned, she explained.

“We’re thrilled,” Spektor said.

She and her husband, Jeremy Nussbaum, bought BookHampton, which has been in business for four decades, in 2000. Over the years they expanded with stores in Sag Harbor, Amagansett and Mattituck, though each has since closed. The Southampton store moved locations a couple times, but never left the center of the village.