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Charlie Munger, who owns and wants to redevelop the Brentwood block that includes Dutton's Books, promised to pay all of the bookstore's debts — and forgive the rent — in exchange for the store closing at the end of April. After a liquidation sale, Doug Dutton would continue to own the Dutton's name and could open another store elsewhere if he chose. Dutton called the offer "very gracious and generous," but also said Munger made it clear "he thought of me as an old-fashioned businessman who was out of touch with reality." Details are in stories on the Westside Today website and in tomorrow's Los Angeles Times. From the LAT:
In an interview, author John Rechy, who recently appeared at Dutton's for his memoir, "About My Life and the Kept Woman," spoke of the store's importance."Every non-million-selling writer has had his coming out there," he said. "They had every single book that you would want."
Author Carolyn See described the store's decline and looming closing as "just sickening."
She said she prized the spot as a neighborhood meeting place, not just for literati but also for local dog walkers. "If you weren't the drinking kind," See said, "you could go there the way you'd go to a bar."
Earlier Monday:
Dutton's calls it quits with 'profound regret and sorrow'
Dutton's reaction rolling in