John Blomgren and Garrett Jones have purchased Imprint Bookstore in Port Townsend, Wash., from previous owners Samantha Ladwig and Thom Nienow, the Leader reported.
Blomgren and Jones will officially take over tomorrow, November 1. Though the couple only moved to Port Townsend last year, they were already familiar with the area and the bookstore. They got to know the bookstore as customers, and quickly connected with Ladwig and Nienow.
Prior to buying the store, Jones and Blomgren owned and operated a cafe and bakery in Portland, Ore., called Back to Eden Bakery. It ran from 2007 until its closure during the Covid-19 pandemic.
"We want to provide that positive, memorable experience for people, and to be part of the local business community, in a different way than we were as part of the food and beverage industry," Blomgren told the Leader. "When you can put a good book into someone’s hands, it can leave a lasting impact on them."
Blomgren noted that he's been learning from other independent booksellers, and he feels optimistic about both the book industry and retail in downtown Port Townsend.
Ladwig and Nienow announced that the bookstore was for sale earlier this year. They purchased it in 2019 from longtime owners Anna and Peter Quinn.
After five years, Ladwig recalled, they felt that the bookstore was "in a good place for us to pass it on." They received more than 100 inquiries about buying the bookstore, with Blomgren and Jones feeling like a perfect fit.
"I think the bookstore will thrive with these two, and I'm sure they'll make great connections within the community," Ladwig said.