Favorite Greenwich, Conn. Stores Just Books & Arcadia Coffee Company For Sale

PRLog (Press Release) – Mar 21, 2008 – Just Books, Too in Old Greenwich, best known for hosting top-selling authors such as Stephen King, Eric Carle, Barbara Bush, Rudy Giuliani, Toni Morrison, Carolyn Kennedy, Frank McCourt, Patricia Polacco, Mo Willems, Dorothy Hamill, Jan Brett, Jennifer Weiner, Lou Dobbs, Madeleine Albright, Jane Seymour, Jane Fonda, and many more, and its next-door neighbor, the favorite hot-spot for coffee in town, Arcadia Coffee Company, are being put up for sale by the current owners, the Lawton Family.  The Lawtons have owned Just Books for six years, and Arcadia Coffee Company for three-and-a-half years.  The two stores are being put up for sale separately.  

Just Books, Too and its original Greenwich location of Just Books, which was closed in 2006, have been a Greenwich fixture since 1949, making it the oldest independently owned book store in Fairfield County.  The bookstore has offered many programs including the well-attended Meet-the-Authors Breakfast Series, collaboration with the Greenwich Library and the Avon Theatre offering big-name authors and speakers, and in-store book signing events with popular authors; book clubs, children's story hours, a Kid's Board and a Just Books Teen group were also some of the features of the beloved neighborhood shop.  In addition to being a favorite stopping point for well-known authors (Just Books was the only independent bookstore that Stephen King visited outside of New York City), Just Books has also won numerous awards such as the Best of the Gold Coast Connecticut by Moffly Publications’ Greenwich, New Canaan-Darien and the Westport magazines and was voted the Best Independent Bookstore in Fairfield County by Fairfield County Weekly.  

Next door to Just Books, Too is Arcadia Coffee Company, which is housed in the landmark building that was once home to the Old Greenwich Post Office.  Arcadia Coffee Company is infused with a warm and welcoming environment that offers lots of potential.  The Lawton’s turned Arcadia from a coffee spot in the daytime to hot spot at night with offerings by local bands, comedians, youth events, meeting space, and an art gallery with monthly rotating art exhibits.

“Both businesses are an important part of the Old Greenwich community,” noted Jenny Lawton, owner of Arcadia and Just Books, Too.  “It is heartbreaking to be in the position of needing to sell the businesses.  I would love nothing more than to continue delighting the residents of Old Greenwich -- and Greenwich at large – with the rich atmosphere and activity at both Arcadia and Just Books.  We’ve seen babies born and grow into grade-schoolers; kids grow up, graduate and return...  we’ve met numerous families, hosted parties for young and old.  It is very hard knowing that we will no longer be a part of those activities with Arcadia and Just Books anymore.”  Lawton went on to note, “I am simply no longer in a position to continue subsidizing the businesses in the manner that I have.  Any and all options will be considered at this time that would enable these cherished institutions to continue operating in the manner that the residents know and love.”  The Lawton’s contribute the need to sell Just Books and Arcadia Coffee Company due to the lackluster economy in the area and the need for capital improvements in the businesses that they can’t undertake at this time.  It is the hope of the Lawton family that a special fundraising event will be held in the near future to help raise funds to pay off the store’s debts before any transfer of ownership occurs.  Details of the fundraiser event will be forthcoming.

Those interested in purchasing Arcadia Coffee Company or Just Books, Too, should contact Jenny Lawton at jenny@lawtonfamily.com.  To learn more about the two businesses, visit http://www.justbooks.org or http://www.arcadiacoffee.com.  Just Books, Too is located at 28 Arcadia Road in Old Greenwich; Arcadia Coffee Company is at 20 Arcadia Road in Old Greenwich.