A real estate agency is “reviewing the market” in advance of a possible sale of Mál og menning bookstore, mbl.is reports. One of the bookstore’s owners, Arndís Björg Sigurgeirsdóttir, confirmed this with the news outlet, although presently, she says that all inquiries being made on her behalf are strictly investigative and that the owners have not yet decided to sell the shop for sure.
The potential sale of the bookstore was made public on a local literature blog, which published an email that was being sent around to individuals who might potentially have an interest in purchasing Mál og menning. The bookstore wasn’t actually mentioned by name in the email, but its description left readers in no doubt about what shop was being alluded to.
“Business for sale in one of the best locations on Laugavegur, right above Bankastræti,” read the email. “The shop occupies two stories and a basement. Part of the upper floor is operated as a café, while the other floors are employed as a bookstore. It would be possible to increase the size of the café, make the bookstore smaller, and add other kinds of saleable goods—there are a lot of possibilities. Great location for all kinds of gift items in the epicenter of tourist activity…”
Arndís Björg says that potential buyers are regularly in contact with the store owners regarding the store. Mál og menning was actually sold in 2016, but the buyer in that case never paid the purchase price and so the sale was revoked.
