Brad Greenwood, co-founder of Greenwoods’ Bookshoppe in Edmonton, has died. Co-owner Gail Greenwood, Brad’s sister, told the Edmonton Journal that the 57-year-old collapsed at work and died of heart failure on July 19.

Brad and Gail opened the bookshop with their sister Laurie in 1979. Armed with a bachelor’s degree in economics from the University of Alberta, Brad became the “business guy,” working behind the scenes while the store grew to a four-shop mini-chain. In 2000, Laurie left the family business, and by 2008, Greenwoods’ had returned to a one-store endeavour.

In the fall, Brad and Gail oversaw the bookshop’s downsizing and its return to the city’s Old Strathcona neighbourhood, where it now resides in an historic development on Whyte Avenue.

We started on Whyte Avenue and we’re thrilled to be moving back,” Brad said at the time of the move. “Smaller, community-focused bookstores that connect with people are the future of independent bookselling.”