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Printer-friendly versionLongtime Malaprop’s Staff Member to Open Bookstore in Florida
Alsace Walentine, the author events coordinator at Malaprop’s Bookstore/Café for many years, is moving to Florida and will open a bookstore in St. Petersburg.
Walentine, who was mentored by Malaprop’s Emoke B’Racz and Linda Marie Barrett, will put her 16 years of experience in bookstore management and events coordination, to work in St. Petersburg, a city with a thriving Keep Local movement.
The yet unnamed bookstore, which is expected to open in fall 2016, will feature new books from all genres, author and community events, and locally brewed coffee.
The Book Burrow Honored With Best of Kennebunk Award
Kennebunk, Maine’s The Book Burrow has been named the recipient of the 2015 Best of Kennebunk Award in the bookstore category.
The awards program honors companies that enhance the positive image of small business through service to their customers and their communities.
The bookstore was opened in 2014 by Julia Spencer.
Literati Bookstore Reopens After Water Damage
Ann Arbor, Michigan’s Literati Bookstore reopened on July 24, four days after water damage caused by a faulty filtration system at The Espresso Bar on the second floor forced the shop to close. The first floor’s tin ceiling, wood floors, and hundreds of books were damaged.
When word of the flood spread via social media, fans of the bookstore rallied to help. “We are really amazed at all the wonderful things our customers have done to show support,” Literati co-owner Mike Gustafson told MLive.com. “Ann Arborites have dropped off cookies and flowers, provided free lunches and made us home cooked meals and, perhaps most importantly, shared kind words and big hugs. The show of support from the community has been incredible, and we can’t thank everyone enough.”
The store, which was opened by Gustafson and Hilary Lowe in April 2013, expanded to the second floor and added a coffee bar run by local coffee shop The Espresso Bar in September 2014.
BookPeople of Moscow Sports New Mural
Customers entering Idaho’s BookPeople of Moscow via the public parking lot on Jackson Street, at the back of the store, will now find a lovely mural of books painted by artist Chris Pavlik. Co-owner Carol Spurling reported that everyone is “so stoked” about the mural, which was commissioned by the store and completed this week.
Featured titles include some local favorites, some personal favorites, some classics, and a few just for fun, said Spurling.
Square Books’ Howorth Nominated by President to Second Term on TVA Board
On July 23, President Barack Obama announced his nominations for a number of key administration posts. Among the nominees was Richard Howorth, co-owner of Square Books in Oxford, Mississippi, who is being nominated to serve a second term on the Board of Directors of the Tennessee Valley Authority.
Howorth was first appointed by the President to the TVA Board of Directors in 2011.
A former president of the American Booksellers Association (1999-2000), Howorth served two terms as mayor of Oxford, Mississippi (2001-2009), and has been on the boards of a number of organizations concerned with the development and future of his home state.