Vroman’s Bookstore Goes Up for Sale

Vroman’s Bookstore Chairman of the Board Joel Sheldon said Wednesday that the 130-year-old bookstore is up for sale and portrayed the decision as the stepping stone into the next stage of the 130-year-old bookstore’s evolution in a changing world.

After 50 years in management of the bookstore, Sheldon, who is 80, said  “Vroman’s, the institution, deserves more opportunity” and selling the business to passionate, capable new owners is the right thing to do.

“We’ll be looking for the right buyer. and will take our time to do that. I want to keep Vroman’s as a very special legacy institution and see it go forward as a gathering place, a community resource,” he said.

Mayor Victor Gordo called the bookstore a “beloved institution that has contributed significantly to the cultural tapestry and literary landscape of Pasadena and beyond,” Gordo said. 

“We are grateful to Joel Sheldon and his family for the gift of this finest of bookstores that broadened our minds, fostered a love of literature, learning, and community, and welcomed all who walked through its doors since 1894.  Vroman’s is an invaluable part of what makes our city great.  With grateful hearts, we wish Joel and his family the very best, and look forward to supporting Vroman’s as it launches into its next 130 years!” 

Other members of the City Council echoed Gordo’s sentiments.

“Vroman’s is a Pasadena institution and one of the few remaining independent bookstores around,” said Vice Mayor Steve Madison. “We thank Joel Sheldon and his family and team for shepherding Vroman’s through numerous challenges over many decades—including the pandemic, changes in the publishing industry, and the shift to Amazon and other online booksellers, to name a few—with fortitude and business acumen, leaving the store in a strong position on the other side. As a community we must come together to support the new owner to ensure that Vroman’s, first founded in 1894, continues to be a literary hub for Pasadena book lovers well into the future.”

The ideal buyer, according to Sheldon, would appreciate Vroman’s unique legacy and its role as a central community resource in Pasadena. They would share the bookstore’s core values, including a commitment to the community, respect for employees, and a passion for books. 

Sheldon’s preference is for local buyers.

“Vroman’s has been a Pasadena landmark for almost 130 years. It holds a special place in my heart as I’ve spent much time reading in sections of the store and participating in their open discussion project,” said Councilmember Justin Jones. “I hope to see Vromans remain open for another 130 years. Natalya and I wish Joel and his family well in the next chapter of their journey.” 

Sheldon views Vroman’s as a center for education, recreation, and entertainment and is interested in the potential integration of new technologies — even artificial intelligence — into the business model.

Today, Vroman’s Bookstore is a significant cultural and historical landmark. It was founded by Adam Clark Vroman on November 14, 1894. When he died in 1916, he left the bookstore to his longtime employees. One of those employees was A.D. Sheldon, who, with his brother, eventually bought a controlling interest in the years after A.C. Vroman’s death.

Members of the Sheldon family have been running the business ever since.  Joel Sheldon currently holds the controlling interest among a group of shareholders comprised of family and nonfamily members.

The bookstore is more than an ordinary retail business.  

Generations of Pasadenans have browsed and bought books there. Over decades Vroman’s has become a local mecca for thinking people passionate about literature, history, politics, art and culture.

“After our successful Christmas, we’re very solid,” Sheldon said. “Right now, we have time to make this decision. We want to make the best decision we can, for everybody involved. That includes my family, our employees, and the institution of Vroman’s — how to set it up for another generation or two. It includes interacting with the community and being a strong participant, however that evolves in the future. Those are my goals.”