Beloved Bookstore To Close In Hamden, Owner Announces

HAMDEN, CT — Beloved local independent bookstore Books & Company is closing after nearly 30 years in business in Hamden, the owner announced Friday.

In a letter posted to Facebook, owner Linda Mooser said she has made the “difficult decision” to close Books & Company in January.

“This enterprise has been such an important part of my life,” Mooser wrote in the letter. “I am grateful for you, our customers, who have been the foundation that has made this possible.”

Books & Company, located at 1235 Whitney Ave., offers trade credit for books and also sells jewelry, greeting cards, gifts, and has a popular café with coffee, pastries and more.

An avid lifelong reader, Mooser dreamed of owning her own bookstore and wanted Connecticut to have a bookstore like the one she frequented when traveling to the Bay Area, “toting a suitcase of paperback books to trade there,” according to a post on the Books & Company website.

“So, in 1995, I took the plunge,” Mooser wrote in the post. “At that time, internet book selling had barely begun. Amazon had yet to sell its first book! I amassed 10,000 like-new used books, set up a tiny cafe, and on April 30, Books & Company opened. At the beginning, I kept my day job, but soon I wanted to put my energy where my heart was ~ in the bookstore.”

The store expanded to its current home in 2000, and Mooser wrote that in 2009, Teresa Fields, owner of Legal Grounds, “took over and expanded the coffee bar offering the best coffee, gelato and pastries in town!”

In the letter announcing Books & Company’s closure, Mooser wrote that the store has grown tremendously over the 30 years.

“Having Teresa bring Legal Grounds to us more than a decade ago has been the best ever business decision,” she wrote. “We have sold thousands of books and sponsored many events including the Whitneyville Fall Festival. Also, we’ve offered many author presentations, classes, music, artist exhibits, etc. We have been so fortunate to become ‘more than a bookstore.’

“But here’s the thing: I am now in my mid-seventies. Seven years ago, I was diagnosed with Cystic Fibrosis. My very capable staff, especially Fran, has always stepped up to help. Now, I need to slow down and begin a new chapter. I’m certain that it’s time – even though it hurts.

“I’ve said it, and I’ll say again: Thanks to all of you for your friendship and for being such an important part of this special place, making Books & Company the remarkable entity that it has become.”