Vroman's to buy Book Soup

The LAT's Carolyn Kellogg has the story: Pasadena's Vroman's is buying Book Soup on the Sunset Strip. She calls it somewhat of an odd pairing.

The 115-year-old Vroman's is the Auntie Mame of Los Angeles bookstores: a bit frowsy on the surface, but sassy underneath. Located east of Old Town in Pasadena, it's got room to spread out and offers a deep, rich stock of literary fiction, travel books, cookbooks, kids books and toys, local history, stationery and -- yes, already -- holiday cards. It's done so well with this model that it opened a branch in Hastings Ranch in 2001 to serve the deeper east valley.

Then there's Book Soup. Located on the Sunset Strip in West Hollywood, it was founded by [Glenn] Goldman in 1975 and shaped by his electric, artistic sensibility. It's equally fascinated with the edgy, the glamorous and the smart, packing those sometimes disparate books into its tight space and towering shelves. This is where Patti Smith signs and shops. If a bookstore can be a pair of skinny jeans, Book Soup is one, and they're black.

Vroman's President and COO Allison Hill was the manager at Book Soup for six years. She said closure of the deal is pending. Goldman died in January.