Future Of Hollywood’s Fave Book Store?

COMMENTS (16)

• I’ve been going to Book Soup for 20 years and though I never knew who owned it, it was clear it was a passionate, book-loving enthusiast, so it’s very sad to read of Mr. Goldman’s passing.

  I sincerely hope they find a way to stay in business, but I concede, like most others, I’m not able to afford non-discounted books anymore like they offer, and am afraid that they’ll have to rely on more and more author signings to get people in there. Otherwise, full-priced bookstores will go the way of print media.

  Somehow, Mr. Goldman’s passing is not only tragic, but symbolic of both our current times and the state of the publishing/bookstore industry.

  Condolences to his family and friends. Wishing them all the best.

  Comment by Booklover — Sunday January 4, 2009 @ 8:34am PST  Reply to this post

• Condolences to the family and staff. I have so many fond memories of Book Soup. As an assistant years ago, the staff was amazing… from gift shopping to research. I truly hope someone will value this amazing bookstore and keep it going.

  Comment by readingjunkie — Sunday January 4, 2009 @ 8:43am PST  Reply to this post

• I second your wishes, Nikki. L.A. has precious few independent bookstores left as it is, and Book Soup is one of the best.

  Comment by Nick — Sunday January 4, 2009 @ 9:27am PST  Reply to this post

• The first jobs I got when I moved to LA from NY was a box office person at the Tiffany and as a general clerk at Book Soup. While my tenure there was short lived (I was an awful clerk) whenever I mention that I worked there that fact is met with some measure of admiration and/or outburst of fondness for the place.
  Sunday mornings were especially great as the bleary eyed Hollywood intelligentsia would amble in to get their copies of Le Monde or The NY Times, etc.
  Glenn created something tremendous in Los Angeles: A literary hub.

  Comment by Allen — Sunday January 4, 2009 @ 9:33am PST  Reply to this post

• Thank you for posting this, Nikki. This store is an L.A. landmark and I hope someone steps in. Out of towners, Book Soup does have a website, if you are so inclined, and it is possible to buy signed books, etc., there.
  http://www.booksoup.com

  Comment by tammanycall — Sunday January 4, 2009 @ 11:35am PST  Reply to this post

• Best bookstore in LA. May it continue for a long long time.

  Comment by Booklover — Sunday January 4, 2009 @ 1:17pm PST  Reply to this post

• Jesus, I had no idea. I’ve been a Book Soup customer for nearly thirty years. Back in the day, Glenn had dinners that brought customers together at local restaurants. He once chased a transvestite book thief all the way to the Roxy (ahh, Sunset, the Golden Age). I have so many friends and acquaintances who worked there along the way. (Robbie Baitz, for example.) And even more who considered the store a home away from home. And then there’s Gary, who’s run the newstand — among other things — for almost as long as the place has been open. So much so that I originally thought HE owned the store (Glenn found his amusing).

  Here’s hoping there’s a way to guarantee the wonderful place Glenn made lives on. I know I’ll do anything I can to help that happen.

  Comment by Harley Peyton — Sunday January 4, 2009 @ 3:22pm PST  Reply to this post

• Given its role in the community & arts-related industries, Book Soup would seem to be well-suited for acquisition by a charity, such as the California Community Foundation or perhaps the Academy Foundation.

  Maintained as a separate corporation the shop wouldn’t constitute an unrelated business, yet at the same time the acquisition could also seem consistent with certain groups’ charitable purposes.

  Comment by Jeff Trexler — Sunday January 4, 2009 @ 4:51pm PST  Reply to this post

• I worked at Book Soup when I arrived in L.A. It was a total education of the Who’s Who of the L.A. scene – everyone from studio execs to visiting producers (Carlo Ponti and David Putnam were regulars), more movie stars than I can mention and dozens of artists and musicans. I remember serving Prince, David Bowie, David Hockney and Elvis Costello in the same week. Writing all that makes it sound like ‘a scene’ – a place to pose, but it wasn’t: Everyone came to buy books and magazines – and always left with more than they came for.
  The place was controlled chaos – unless you were Glenn. He knew every book in the store and where it was shelved. His knowledge was amazing. I only got the job because he was impressed by the fact that I owned a complete Oxford English Dictionary – he thought that would translate into literary erudition – unfortunately it didn’t and I was probably a terrible clerk – as were many of Glenn’s hires. I sometimes worked the lateshift with Jon Robin Baitz (then an aspiring playwright) – and Robbie would refuse to sell books that he considered bad literature. Glenn thought that was funny.
  I also remember a Punk staggering in from the Roxy and pissing on the books. Glenn chased him down Sunset and made a citizens arrest. At 11pm when we closed, we’d play a tape that Charles Fleischer made telling people that it was time to go home and read.
  It was wacky, hard work and fun.
  I can’t imagine L.A. without Book Soup. When I arrived it was THE only decent bookstore and may still be. I hope it survives as Glenn’s memorial. It certainly should.
  My hearfelt commiserations to his kids.
  Christopher Monger – Proud Book Soup Alumni

  Comment by christopher monger — Sunday January 4, 2009 @ 6:46pm PST  Reply to this post

• who reads anymore?

  Comment by longridge — Monday January 5, 2009 @ 5:14am PST  Reply to this post

• There’s bookstores in LA?

  Just kidding. Looks like a cool place. Everyone should get together and try to save it.

  Comment by peggy — Monday January 5, 2009 @ 9:52am PST  Reply to this post

• Sad to hear of his passing. Book Soup is my favorite book store! Here’s to hoping that a kind-hearted lover of books takes the helm.

  Comment by Diane — Monday January 5, 2009 @ 11:17am PST  Reply to this post

• Truly and institution and very ironic(?) about the timing of the sale and Glenn’s passing. Condolences to family and staff.

  To be pragmatic though, one needs look no further than the skeletal remains of Tower across the street to read the tea leaves.

  Comment by Toldja Boy Tell 'Em — Monday January 5, 2009 @ 4:09pm PST  Reply to this post

• i read your item– regarding the potential sale of book soup– my office (sunset plaza) is just down the block from book soup– i am a regular and enthusiastic customer– i would be interested in considering investment in the store– can you suggest the best contact?– thanks, chuck meyer

  Comment by chuck meyer — Monday January 5, 2009 @ 5:11pm PST  Reply to this post

• How sad, I was just giving a mental shout out to Book Soup because of this Details magazine article on Keanu Reeves:
  http://men.style.com/details/blogs/thegadabout/2008/10/keanu-reeves.html

  Now where’s Keanu going to get his Houellebecq? Dude, he should totally buy Book Soup!

  Comment by I hope someone saves it — Tuesday January 6, 2009 @ 12:51am PST  Reply to this post

• someone buy it!
  too many fond memories there.

  Comment by troy — Tuesday January 6, 2009 @ 7:24pm PST  Reply to this post