Cheshire Books Changes Hands

On October 16, Cheshire Books, a general bookstore selling mostly new books, in Fort Bragg, California, will be under new ownership. For seven years, Linda Rosengarten has loved being a part of the rural town’s reading community, but now she’s ready to leave her store in the capable hands of Christine and Paul Lindauer.

Rosengarten made the decision to sell her business for several reasons, including a desire to be more involved in her husband’s woodworking business. Though she plans to stay involved in the book world, she said it will be difficult to leave what has been such a large part of her life.

Rosengarten was involved in nonprofit organizations during her early career, and she found a similar “rightful productivity” in bookselling through the excitement of promoting reading, introducing people to new authors, and growing a children’s section, where she saw young people transform into young readers.

“There is a true rightfulness in bookselling, in serving that person who is very curious, who needs someone to hold their heart and point them in directions to feed their mind,” Rosengarten said. “I was very lucky to be one of the people that was able to do that. And it made me very popular!”

The emotional task of leaving Cheshire Books behind has been made easier by Rosengarten’s belief that Christine and Paul Lindauer are the perfect owners for the store.

“It takes the synergy of two people to run a business like this,” she said. “And they’re just delightful.”

The couple was interested in running a business together – something to occupy them through their retirement years. Paul is a manufacturing engineer, and Christine is a CPA with degrees in both accounting and literature. By becoming a bookstore owner, Christine is fulfilling what she said has been a lifelong dream. “Since childhood and especially in college I always felt comfortable and comforted when in a bookstore,” she said.

Though they’re aware of the challenges of owning a bookstore, the Lindauers remain optimistic.

“We believe very strongly that the independent bookstore is on the verge of a rebirth,” said Christine. “People will always love books and most will thrive on the feel of a book held in their hands.”

Christine moved to Fort Bragg in 1973, the same year Cheshire Books opened, and she has been a longtime supporter of the store. “When you walk in the door, you feel like you’re meeting a dear old friend, once again,” she said. Along with the store’s name, the Lindauers plan to keep most of Cheshire’s ambiance and exemplary customer service. New ventures include the creation of a strong web presence and e-newsletters to keep community members up to date with the store’s events.

The new owners’ mission statement asserts their most important commitment: supporting the needs and well-being of the community. This adheres to a value always embraced by Cheshire Books’ former owner.

“A town isn’t a community without a bookstore,” said Rosengarten.