The Last Independent Bookstore In Guilford Is Up For Sale

GUILFORD, CT — Breakwater Books, a centerpiece in downtown Guilford and the town's only independent bookstore, is up for sale.

Richard Parent, who co-owns the 1,500-square-foot shop with his husband Paul Listro, told Patch they're not in a hurry to sell.

"We have other commitment from a business perspective, and then we also have some personal commitments that are just taking our attention and our time away from the store for that reason," Parent said. They were the fourth owners of Breakwater Books, which opened in 1972.

Listro and Parent rent the space in the store, and are selling the books and other assets. Their lease is up in three years, at which point they will transfer it to the new owner.

The couple bought the business in 2019, during a business downturn for Listro. Now both men are once again flush with clients.

COVID shut down their new business for two months in 2020, and the booksellers compensated by providing deliveries and curbside pickup. Parent said he can't be certain how bad his business may have been hurt by the pandemic.

"We have nothing really to compare it to," he said.

Around two weeks ago, the owners sent notice of their intent to sell to trade publication Shelf Awareness. The news was picked up by a member of the Simply Guilford Facebook group, and the word spread quickly.

"We've had meetings with a number of different people, and we've had quite a few people sign the NDA and get the fact sheet with all the information about the sale and the price and statistics about the (book) sales," Parent said.

Breakwater Books is located at 81 Whitfield Street in Guilford.