New Linden Tree Owners Are Excited, Optimistic

Six months ago, the future of Linden Tree Children's Recordings & Books was in doubt. Owners Dennis and Linda Ronberg had announced their plans to retire, and, with no buyer in sight, it appeared likely that the store would close. But when longtime friends Dianne Edmonds and Jill Curcio read about Linden Tree in the Los Altos, California, paper they saw it as an opportunity.

“It was very clear in my mind I would only do this with Jill,” said Edmonds. The two women met when their children were in preschool together, and they had worked together on school and community projects over the years. Curcio agreed – “It's a very, very special little store,” she said – and they began negotiating with the Ronbergs.

Edmonds and Curcio joined the Ronbergs at the 2010 Winter Institute in San Jose, where they had their first introduction to the bookselling community. They found the education sessions helpful as they prepared for their new business, but what was more important, said Edmonds, was “getting in contact with people who really support bookselling.”

Since they officially became Linden Tree's owners on May 1, Edmonds and Curcio have been busy rebuilding the inventory, which had been shrinking when the store's closing seemed likely. Curcio, who is handling the buying, couldn't be happier. “I just have this ongoing excitement over getting to know the inventory,” she said. “It's a great opportunity to really get to know every book on the shelf.”

Edmonds, who has a background in corporate finance, is managing the store's business operations. “We really have taken a divide-and-conquer approach,” she said. Although she hasn't worked in the book industry before, Edmonds has found it easy to draw on her previous experience. “Negotiating terms is the same whether you're doing it on a personal level ... or corporate level,” she said.

For now, Edmonds and Curcio are not planning any major changes, focusing instead on maintaining a strong inventory, which will include what Edmonds calls “the music aspect.” They will also continue the store's tradition of summer concerts, an activity their children enjoyed while growing up. The concert admission “fee” is one book, donated to a local literacy organization.

The Los Altos community has been showing its support for the new owners. “The outpouring of gratitude has been really great,” Curcio said. “For a child to come up to you and say thank you is really motivating.”