Around Indies

Linda’s Story Time Celebrates 15 Years

Linda Devlin recently spoke to the Monroe Courier about her 15 years as the owner of Linda’s Story Time in Monroe, Connecticut. Devlin, who has been in the book business for nearly 30 years, was an associate, then manager of the book floor at Klein’s in Westport before it closed in 1999. Stanley Klein, the owner of Klein’s at the time, financed the opening of Linda’s Story Time.

Devlin told the Courier that listening to her customers, whatever their age, sets her apart from the competition. “I know my customers. I know what they want, I know what books to order, how many,” she said. “I’m always looking for what else I can do to create a better, livelier experience.”

Linda’s also collaborates with the surrounding schools to find out what books have been assigned for the summer and makes sure that they are all available and easy to find on the shelves.

“I custom order everything in the store to match my customers’ preferences,” Devlin said. “It’s not just my own taste — I get a lot of advice and learn a lot from the kids that come in here. I only stock the best of the best.”

Skylight Books Wins Archipelago Contest

Los Angeles’ Skylight Books has been named the winner of Archipelago Books’ 10th anniversary contest, Broadway World Books reported.

In March, Archipelago invited indie booksellers to create a festive display commemorating Archipelago’s 10th anniversary for a chance to win an invitation to its gala on October 16 at the Wythe Hotel in Brooklyn.

Archipelago Books said that Skylight Books exceeded expectations with its amazing display, and it extended thanks to the store’s dedicated booksellers for 10 years of enthusiasm and support.

DIESEL to Close Malibu Location

Malibu, California’s DIESEL, A Bookstore in the Country Mart will be closing sometime this fall, the Malibu Times reported. Last December, store owners John Evans and Alison Reid announced they were putting the store up for sale and would be focusing on the business’s growing number of stores outside of Malibu.

With no serious offers, Evans and Reid have decided to close the business by September 21 at the latest, due to the location’s steep rent and slow foot traffic, the Malibu Times said.

Diesel opened its Malibu location 10 years ago in the Malibu Village before moving to the Country Mart in 2011. Evans and Reid’s three other DIESEL stores are located in Oakland, Brentwood, and Larkspur, California.