by InTrieste
A historic bookshop in Milan witnessed an extraordinary event last Thursday, when a mystery customer walked in and bought every single book on display in the shop window, leaving the owner and staff in awe.
The purchaser spent nearly €10,000 on 200 books, ranging from art and photography to history and current affairs, at the Hoepli bookstore, a storied establishment located in the heart of the city. The buyer, whose identity remains unknown, paid the substantial sum without haggling for a discount, according to Matteo Hoepli, the shop’s owner.
“He paid with a credit card, without asking for a single euro off the roughly €10,000 bill,” Hoepli told Corriere della Sera, the local newspaper that first reported the story. After settling the account, the mysterious bibliophile loaded the volumes into a taxi and departed, leaving behind an empty display window that typically attracts the attention of book lovers from across Milan.
Hoepli’s bookstore, a beloved institution that has been in the family since 1870, boasts an expansive collection of literature and has long been a cornerstone of Milan’s literary community. Founded by Swiss-Italian publisher Ulrico Hoepli, the store’s original location still stands on the street that now bears its founder’s name.
For those who visited the shop in the days following the extraordinary purchase, the scene was nothing short of surprising. Customers arriving at the Hoepli bookstore were greeted with a bare shopfront and signs proclaiming: “All the books on display were sold.”
Describing the sale as “exceptional,” Hoepli remarked on the unusual nature of the event. “I was amazed, and I thought it was brilliant that someone could find a window display so beautiful that they wanted to buy it in its entirety,” he said. “We are also talking about a space that is five meters long by three meters high.”
Reflecting on the unexpected windfall, Hoepli added, “This episode taught us that you never know what can happen. I don’t recall such an extraordinary event in the stories passed down from my grandparents or great-grandparents. Now I will share it with my children and grandchildren.”
Hoepli’s bookstore, which also serves as the headquarters for the publishing house Editore Hoepli, remains a landmark for Milanese intellectuals and visitors alike. However, even with its long and storied history, last Thursday’s purchase stands out as a once-in-a-lifetime occurrence.
