Book Soup Owner Dies Day After Putting Store Up for Sale

Sunset Boulevard is home today to another sad story: Glenn Goldman, the owner of the 33-year-old bookstore Book Soup, died yesterday, just one day after he put the cherished shop up for sale.

Goldman, 58, lost his battle with pancreatic cancer yesterday. He was described by the Tabloid Baby blog as "a low key, quiet force," while David Ulin of the LA Times said Goldman "was a charming gentleman: shy, smart, exceedingly well-read and committed to reading and bookselling and the literary life."

Book Soup has been considered by many to be one of the coolest indie book retailers in L.A.--not to mention one of the few left standing in the era of Big Box Booksellers and the troubled economy. Hosting a multitude of readings, signings, and events, the store has long been renowned for their "floor to ceiling bookshelves, high profile events, and celebrity clientele" and their very LA-oriented inventory.

According to friends of Goldman, he put the place up for sale knowing that his life was coming to an end and hoping his sons Joe and Sam would benefit from the sale. Book Soup's GM said yesterday: "Nobody here is looking for a new job. The store remains an extremely viable business, and the entire staff wants to carry on the legacy of Book Soup."

Today, Deadline Hollywood's Nikki Finke expresses what many feel about the beloved store: "Please, Hollywood, make sure this showbiz treasure stays open and financially sound." Indeed. And thank you, Glenn Goodman.

Photo from a reading at Book Soup in April 2008 by skampy via Flickr