Beloved Local Bookstore In Business For Over 75 Years Now Up For Sale

LARCHMONT, NY — A longtime Larchmont institution could soon be closing its doors for good.

Larchmont's oldest independent bookstore, Andersons Larchmont, established in 1946, describes itself as "your ultimate one stop shop. Books, toys, gifts for newborns to nonagenarians." The beloved business located at 96 Chatsworth Ave. announced on Wednesday that it is planning on closing up shop within the next year.

The announcement came in a statement that was posted on the Andersons Larchmont Facebook page:

"It is with a heavy heart that I am announcing that Andersons Larchmont will be going on the market. As most of you are aware, Andersons has been a staple in the community for over 75 years and we are hoping that someone will want to take it over so that Larchmont will continue to have an independent bookstore. After the loss of Tim Greeman, his wife Paulene, no longer has the passion to run the store without him. The store will stay open until the Spring of 2023 if no buyer has been found by that time."

Shortly after the announcement, the business's page was filled with posts lamenting the possible loss to the village, including posts from Legislator Catherine Parker and author/activist Amy Siskind. Several commenters expressed their hope that someone else would take over the neighborhood institution.

SEE ALSO: Anderson's Book Shop: A Literary Icon Turns 65

As noted in a Patch neighbor post by Marc Ferris in 2011, Andersons was one of the few remaining independent book shops still thriving in Westchester County after many shops were forced to go out of business after economic downturns and technological advances.

Andersons Larchmont was founded by Charles Anderson, who retired in 1985. The store has had a few other owners over the years. In 2000, Peter Greeman decided to buy the store, despite the fact that he had no experience running a bookstore.

At the time of the shop's 65th anniversary, Peter Greeman's wife, Tamara, recounted that Charles Anderson had written his college recommendation and had shaped what her husband had read about and talked about. Her husband had considered Anderson to be a mentor and figured that he owed him something.

"Most bookstores have had to expand the merchandise they offer," Greeman said in 2011. "They may come for something and then buy a book. We also provide free gift wrapping and that helps." In addition to readings and book signings, Greeman added new items to the store, including stationery, picture frames, art supplies, puzzles, games and jewelry.

Tamara Greeman has previously said that she recalled a time when farms lined Central Avenue and I-287 didn't even exist. People used to shop locally, but that began to change as suburbs grew post-WWII. Explaining how an independent book shop survived, she said "the personal touch keeps people coming back. The great big stores set themselves up on Central Avenue, which is 35 minutes away, so you really have to be determined to want to save a few dollars on a book when we can get anything anyone wants."

During the 65th anniversary celebration, Tamara Greeman remarked, "it's occasions like this, when people tell us that they're glad we're still here, that make it very fulfilling."

The Greemans' son, Tim, and his wife Paulene took over the shop in 2018. Tim passed away in January of 2021, at the age of 60.