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Catalyzing worker co-ops & the solidarity economy

Radical bookshop buys former bank

On 6 August October Books in Southampton completed the purchase of 189 Portswood Road which for many years had been a branch of NatWest Bank. This was made possible be a very successful campaign that with the support of the local community raised £487,800 through a combination of loan stock, crowd funding, personal loans and gifts, and a loan from Co-operative & Community Finance.

The new building is much bigger than the current shop, which is actually in the same street. October Books owns the freehold. The top floor of the building has already been sold to a private leaseholder and October Books will sell the first floor to The Society of St James, a local charity that supports homeless people. The ground floor will be used by the bookshop and the local community. The co-op is hoping that the necessary renovations will be completed in time to allow the bookshop to open in its new home in October, of course.

Read the rest at Co-operative and Community Finance

 

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