Fred Bass (businessman)

Fred Bass (June 28, 1928-) is an American businessman, best known as the current owner of New York City's Strand Bookstore. Bass took over the family business from his father, Benjamin Bass, in 1956, and soon moved the store to its present location at the corner of East 12th Street and Broadway.

Fred joined the family business by the age of 13, working weekends with his father, Ben Bass, when Strand was located on 4th Avenue. In the early days, he spent most of his time shelving, sweeping, and tidying up a bit. After Fred completed a tour of duty in the Armed Forces, he came home to New York where he worked side-by-side with his father. By 1957, Fred moved the store just around the corner, to our current space at 12th Street and Broadway. As the years went on, Fred came to spend most of his time at the buying desk, cultivating relationships with regulars. In an article with New York's The Villager, he said: “You never know what someone is going to walk in with...[it's a] treasure hunt.”[1]

Bass continues to work, and also travels to look at private libraries and estates.[2]

References

  1. ↑ http://thevillager.com/villager_368/familyowners.html
  2. ↑ "The Strand's Stand". NYMag.

External links


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