Owner of Codex Books looking for buyer just four months after moving to downtown location

QUINCY — Four months after moving in October to the former Kirlin’s Hallmark building at 532 Maine, owner Alex Craig is looking for a buyer for Codex Books.

“Codex Group is pivoting,” Craig said. “We do healthcare services primarily, and we’re focusing more on the expansion of that division. That’s required more of my time. I just can’t be pulled both places anymore.”

Codex Books is a division of Codex Healthcare, which employs about 15 people. It provides on-site scribing services for healthcare facilities.

“We are looking to bring on new clients,” Craig said. “It scales quickly once we take on a new client.”

Craig bought Quincy Books and Toys in May 2021 and moved the business to the Quincy Commons Shopping Center next to Hobby Lobby at 3800 Broadway.

Craig, originally from Palmyra, Mo., leases the building at 532 Maine from 532 Maine LLC, owned by William Duryea. He is willing to be flexible with prospective buyers.

“They could take over the lease,” he said. “But in terms of everything else, it’s as much or as little as they want. If they just want to do an asset acquisition, they can do that. If they want to buy everything, they can.” 

If a buyer is not found by the end of second quarter, Craig will sell off the assets.

Craig bought the business because he didn’t want Quincy to lose a locally owned bookstore. He hopes someone else in the community feels the same way. He says experience in running a bookstore is not a necessity.

“All the staff we currently have would like to stay on,” Craig says. “We have a general manager, Jennifer Tournear, who is aware of how it runs and can handle that aspect of it. I’m more than happy to stay on in a consulting role.”

Codex Books is open from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Friday and Saturday and noon to 5 p.m. on Sunday.