After 29 years, independent Hanover bookstore the Reader's Cafe finds new owners

After nearly three decades, a longtime Hanover cafe and bookstore has been sold, the business reported.

The Reader's Cafe, located on Broadway in downtown Hanover, was sold to a new owner, said owners Derf and Mary Ann Maitland in a social media announcement.

With new ownership, the business will reopen under a new name, Little Fox Coffee & Books, on Aug. 1, the post said.

"We have always felt that we couldn't leave until the right people came along and we feel that that day has come," the owners said in the post.

The business has been a staple of the downtown Hanover community for almost 29 years, known for its local selection of books, hosting numerous book launches for local authors, as well as being known for its well-regarded cafe and coffee options.

It first opened in the late 1990s after the Maitlands purchased a renovated former church and turned it into a bookstore with the dream of creating a space where book enthusiasts could pick up a book, sit down and grab a coffee, according to the business' website.

A sale for all books is ongoing at the store as the store prepares for the change in ownership, with 50% off used books, 40% off new books, and 20% off consignment books until July 31.

"The support you have given us over the years has been overwhelming and the friendships we've made will be cherished always," the Maitlands said in the post.

Harrison Jones is the Hanover reporter for the Evening Sun. Reach him at hjones@gannett.com .

This article originally appeared on Hanover Evening Sun: After 29 years, independent Hanover bookstore the Reader's Cafe finds new owners