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| Riffraff's new owners, Ottavia De Luca and Lucas Mann. | |
Riffraff Bookstore & Bar, Providence, R.I., which was put up for sale in June after owner and co-founder (with Emma Ramadan) Tom Roberge moved to Switzerland, has new owners. In an Instagram post introducing themselves, Ottavia De Luca and Lucas Mann said they "could not be more thrilled" with the decision to purchase the business. "We have loved this place since before it was even open (we helped stock shelves in those earliest days). We held our baby shower at Riffraff, we spent so many pandemic afternoons with our daughter in the beautiful courtyard finding community in otherwise lonely times. This is where we buy our books, meet our friends for drinks, where we've seen too many amazing readings to count. In short, we know that Riffraff is a special place--stubbornly independent, but also welcoming."
De Luca, who has been working in the wine and spirits business for more than a decade, will take over day-to day-operations of the store. Mann, a writer and English professor, will be running the readings and events. "Together with the wonderful Riffraff team already in place, we promise to keep the good Riffraff name going while only adding to what the space has to offer (keep an eye out for exciting new developments!)," they wrote. "Thank you to Tom for entrusting us, thank you to Victoria and the rest of the staff for welcoming us, and thank you to YOU, the amazing Riffraff community, for making this unique place what it is. Come meet us, say hey, grab a drink, find a great book, check out an event. We are so excited for the future!"
When friends of De Luca saw Roberge's June announcement about the sale, they asked if she and her husband planned on pursuing the opportunity. "I simply could not pass this up," she said. "When Tom and I talked about it, we knew this was meant to be."
Longtime West End residents, De Luca and Mann told the Boston Globe they plan to retain the store's name, pop-ups, book clubs, and charm. Prior to moving to Rhode Island, De Luca worked at Prairie Lights Bookstore in Iowa City. "For her, the store was 'pivotal' in her understanding of how a bookstore could be a place to foster and grow a community," the Globe wrote.
"What Tom and Emma created is such a special place, and the wonderful staff, delicious drinks, and carefully curated book selection will remain," said De Luca, who is also a member of the Out Loud Theatre, an experimental and avant-garde collaborative in Providence. "Our offerings will only grow from there."
De Luca said they're planning to feature local artists with receptions to celebrate their work, as well as hosting wine nights, open mics, food, live music, and movies in the courtyard. "We've always felt welcome here," she added. "We want to make sure every person who steps into the space feels the same. This is a place to try something new, to seek out weird, wonderful art and literature, to share your own work, to support and be supported by your community. "