RALEIGH (WTVD) -- Nancy Olsen, the founder and former owner of Raleigh's popular independent bookstore, Quail Ridge Books, died early Sunday morning, according to a store representative.
She died around 4 a.m. after a 3-year battle with kidney disease.
In a post on Facebook, the manager of the store expressed her condolences: "On behalf of Quail Ridge Books, our hearts and condolences go out to Nancy's family: her husband Jim, sons David and Corey, and granddaughters Leila and Sarah."
The bookstore hosted national and local writers and often was a regional draw for those with a new book or a big idea, the News & Observer reports.
Olson received the Raleigh Medal of Arts Award in 2010 for her more than 25 years of being an arts advocate.
She owned the shop for 29 years.