FOUR PARTIES have so far expressed interest in purchasing Solidaridad, a decades-old bookstore and cultural landmark founded by the late National Artist for Literature F. Sionil José, his son said.
Antonio “Tonet” José, the late literary icon’s eldest son, said he and his siblings would wait for up to ten days for more potential buyers of the bookshop.
“As of now, there’s about four who are interested. So, we’re just waiting for the letter [of] intent to purchase,” he told The Flame.
The Flame and other media entities reported on Tuesday, July 1, that Solidaridad was sold to an undisclosed buyer for less than P35 million.
A day later, Solidaridad’s Facebook page clarified that the reports, which were based on interviews with Tonet, were “incorrect” and apologized to the media and the public for the confusion.
RELATED: Solidaridad for sale: F. Sionil José chose independence over profit
Tonet revealed that he and his siblings were not unanimous in selling the bookstore to the initial buyer as there was no letter of intent provided.
The José siblings are eyeing to sell the property, along with its inventory and fixtures, for a negotiable price of P35 million to P38 million.
“‘Only the artworks are not covered,” Tonet said.
Solidaridad, established by the elder José in 1965, is known for its extensive selection of local and foreign books. The three-story store located in Ermita, Manila also functioned as a meeting spot for writers and intellectuals, making it a key literary spot.
The elder José, who took up journalism in UST, was recognized as a National Artist for Literature in 2001. He passed away at the age of 97 in 2022.
In a previous interview with The Flame, Tonet said his father had rejected offers to expand the bookstore into a branch network to keep the place “independent” and “singular.” F — with reports from Veancy Palad
