SPCK Bookshops Update from David Keen

Thanks to David Keen for another excellent roundup on the sad and sorry saga of the former SPCK Bookshops: well worth reading if you want a quick update on how things are panning out.

If he wasn't such a crook, I could almost feel sorry for J Mark Brewer. But he is a crook, and a prize plonker too if he thinks he's going to get away with all this: with the likes of Matt Wardman on his trail he's about as safe as a criminal being chased down by Inspector Poirot.

Interesting developments in Exeter too, which David seems to have missed from his roundup: now trading as GemStar Jewellery and Gifts, premises now owned by Messrs Anton and Joseph Lampo who bought the site for the princely sum of £507,000 back in September.

The Land Registry filing for the premises indicates the existence of "restrictive covenants" in place but doesn't tell us what those covenants consist of. Not exactly difficult to work out, though: Brewer tried to auction the premises earlier in the year but was scuppered by those covenants... which now seem to be comprehensively breached. So how, exactly, did he get away with making this sale? Scenes of dodgy dealings at the back door come to mind...

See the comments on 'Welcome to GemStar Jewellery and Gifts, Exeter' for relevant links, and Exeter: The Inside (Incomplete) Story: Part 1 and Part 2 for more background.

SPCK/SSG Exeter: Shop Fittings for Sale

As advertised in the Bookseller, 17 October 2008, p.45:


Not sure that this gets anyone anywhere with the speculation about the old Exeter shop, but here's a transcript of the ad:

Bookshop furniture for sale
Oak effect furniture, pristine condition.

- 26 bookcases (2070 x 800 x 350)*
- 5 card holders with storage draws (1270 x 590 x 605)
- 4 free standing display units (1220 x 800 x 675)
- 2 Large shop tills.
*all measurements in millimetres
Plus many other bookshop furnishings, including plastic accessories and slat walling.

Located at 1-2 Catherine Street, Cathedral Yard, Exeter, EX11EU,
for enquiries please phone: Grant on: 07799845084
Emma on: 07845468625

This begs several questions: who are Greg and Emma? Do they own the property or are they agents acting on behalf of SPCK or SSG? Or are they selling it on behalf of the new tenants or the landlord? And who gets the proceeds from the sale? Shouldn't it be going to the unpaid workers or suppliers?

As for "pristine condition", see Neil Denham's SPCK Bookshop Exeter - R.I.P. — that sure doesn't look like pristine condition to me...

And finally, as David Keen points out, one has to wonder about the bookshop paperwork...

Diary Date: Meeting for ex-SPCK Staff and Other Interested Parties

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Cross-posted from SPCK Watch:

Next Wednesday there is a meeting being held in London. Details of time and where are here http://spckssg.wordpress.com/diary/

What we need now though are two things: firstly I need to know you are coming. It is open to exSPCK/SSG staff (and current staff if you are willing to come) and those in the publishing/bookselling world. Other interested people can come but let me know please at spckrefugee@operamail.com

Secondly we need to get an agenda together. A lot has happened in the months since this meeting was called. The death of Steve Jeynes. The pension chaos. The petition concerning the Durham shop. The bankrupty case being thrown out. Shops openning in Cardiff and soon to open in Norwich and elsewhere. In all this how can we support each other beyond the blogs? How can we support those who want to start a bookshop to replace the old SPCK/SSG one? How can we provide emotional support for each other? How can we continue to make sure that something rises from the mass destruction caused by the Brewers? Again please let me know what you want discussed. the email to use is the same as above spckrefugee@operamail.com.

Phelim