Dublin bookstore Chapters will reopen under new ownership this Friday

One iconic Dublin bookstore is beginning a new chapter of its own as it reopens this Friday under new ownership.

“We just couldn’t let it go!” Chapters declared on social media, announcing that Kevin Neary and Michael Finucane of Gamestop Ireland are now the new owners of the store.

We just couldn’t let it go! The Gamesworld lads from the back of Chapter’s Middle Abbey St, Kev & Mick are the new owners of Chapters - reopening Friday 11th March! pic.twitter.com/xhA0KyNFHt

— Chapters Bookstore Dublin (@chaptersbooks) March 8, 2022

A few months ago, owners of Chapters revealed that after "40 wonderful years in business, we would like to announce that we will be closing our doors on January 31st."

The announcement of the store's closure sparked an outpour of tributes from city residents who were greatly saddened to see the store go. In the few weeks before its closing date, people flocked to the shop to make their final purchases.

“When we announced that Chapters was closing, we were shocked and amazed at the outpouring of emotion and affection”, the store said in a statement today. “The queues down the street, media coverage, lovely posts, and comments online, not to mention the fantastic interaction in the store made a sad moment bittersweet.”

Chapters is Ireland's largest independent bookstore. Since it first opened on Wicklow Street in 1983, it has moved through several locations including St Stephens Green, Abbey Street, and Henry Street before settling at its current location on Parnell Street.

Store founder Willie Kinsella, now retired, sold the business to Kevin Neary and Michael Finucane, the co-founders and directors of Gamestop Ireland. Neary and Finucane opened a small business called Gameworld at the back of the Chapters location on Middle Abbey Street in 1994.

Kinsella served as a mentor to the two young proprietors who have referred to their new acquisition of the store as a perfect example of the circular economy: “25 years of friendship, admiration and shared understanding of retail and championing customer choice has come home again."

In looking to the store's future, the new owners have stated that:

“The secret to Chapters continued success will be to let it do what it does fantastically well – stocking, selling and trading the widest range of new and second-hand books it is possible to fit onto the 1.2 km of shelving in the store! Investment will be made in improving the EPOS and stock visibility systems, plus converting the website to e-commerce.”

Chapters will once again be looking to buy and sell second hand books when it opens its doors at 9.30am on Friday, March 11th.