Marlene Zeiler, longtime owner of Tall Tales Book Shop in Atlanta, Ga., has sold the store to employee Rebekah Hagedorn.
The sale of the 34-year-old store officially went through on June 7; Zeiler plans to continue working at the store at least once a week for "Wonderful Wednesdays," when Hagedorn has the day off. Hagedorn, who has worked at Tall Tales for five years, has roughly 20 years of experience working in books and retail.
"All of the staff were stricken at the idea of the store closing," Hagedorn said. "I thought, I hoped, that I could make a go of it." At present, she has no plans to make any major changes. "It's been an institution in the neighborhood for the past 34 years. We want to keep it going strong."
In a letter to Tall Tales customers announcing the sale, Zeiler wrote that "it seemed to me that this was a good time to pass the torch. I did not want to close the store or sell to someone I didn't care about. Still, it is hard to think of giving it all up, but I know Rebekah will love Tall Tales as I do.... I have had a fantastic life with a really good family and this wonderful profession. I can't think of anything I would rather have done. I attribute my main source of pleasure to you who have become friends as well as customers.
"I believe the store is in good hands (all my wonderful people are staying on), and we can dish up the same good service, good books, and good conversation." --Alex Mutter
