For sale: one independent bookstore

We don't like the outlook for independent music and book retailers in Houston: First Cactus announced it will close, and now the Brazos Bookstore may follow suit. Brazos owner Karl Kilian recently accepted a job as director of programs at the Menil Collection, and his hiring agreement stipulates that he must sell the store. The price is between $275,000 and $300,000, and Killan told the Chronicle the time frame for making the sale is "very short." But he's not going to sell to just anyone:

"I want to be very careful about who buys it," the 62-year-old Kilian said. "I would like somebody who could come in with an updated way of looking at it, a whole new openness to the kind of readings maybe I don't do that well, but mainly just with the energy to hustle."

Killan said he has one interested potential buyer, but he's hoping others will come forward as well. If the sale isn't made, Brazos will close. Houstonist would love to own a bookstore, but alas, we shook out our couch cushions and only came up with 46 cents and what we believe is a smushed Werther's Original. We hope that someone with a passion for books and the right sized bank account steps up to the plate — we sure would hate to lose Brazos.