Yesterday, readers around Connecticut (and beyond) received one of those periodic “Dear Reader” letters that they’ve come to expect from Roxanne Coady, owner of Madison’s esteemed independent bookstore, R.J. Julia. But rather than sharing the customary reading recommendations, upcoming store events, or community-minded wisdom, Coady made a surprising announcement: that she is looking to sell R.J. Julia.
It was twenty-two years ago that an eight months pregnant Coady first opened the doors of R.J. Julia. Since that time, the store has established itself as a pinnacle of the community and a destination for readers and writers from across the nation. Now, Coady’s son is set to graduate college in May and the proud mother is ready to let both of her babies fly – though she’ll surely be watching from a distance.
“We think it’s also time for R.J. Julia to grow in new ways, in the care of new hands that will guide the store to take its proper place in a new world; a changing of the guard in a time of change,” Coady noted in her letter. “Rest assured: This is not an end for R.J. Julia, but simply a new beginning. The store will not close. We are determined to see R.J. Julia survive and thrive R.J. Julia in the future…”
There is no clear indication as to when the sale will occur, and Coady is committed to being patient in order to find the right person to take over the reins. To aid in the process, she has enlisted the help of Donna Paz Kaufman, founder of The Bookstore Training Group of Paz & Associates – “a highly respected educator, consultant and friend of independent bookselling.” She and her husband, Mark Kaufman, will oversee the eventual transition.
Mark Kaufman told the Branford Patch that he sees Paz & Associates’ role as “qualifying prospective owners” for Coady – and that a priority will be to impress upon potential buyers “the nature of what it means to own an independent bookstore.”
And while Coady may be looking to make a change, her heart clearly remains within the business of books. In her letter, she noted the problem of low literacy rates in America and the impact this has on children and families, stating, “I intend to commit my time to reversing this trend—no sense having bookstores if we are not developing readers—no sense fixing our education system if we are sending children in who are not equipped to learn.”
For now, though, you can catch her in the store…
Read Ms. Coady’s letter in its entirety here.
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