Around Indies

Archestratus Books Sets Up Shop in Brooklyn

On October 2, Archestratus Books & Foods will mark its grand opening in the neighborhood of Greenpoint, Brooklyn.

Inspired by her grandparents’ 1960s Bushwick neighborhood milk bar, Paige Lipari is launching the store to highlight fiction, nonfiction, and food books and will offer a menu of Sicilian baked goods, coffee, tea, beer, and wine. The bookstore will have a lounging area for classes, readings, screenings, tastings, book clubs, and more.

The name Archestratus recalls the ancient Greek poet from Sicily who wrote the poem “Life of Luxury” and indulged heartily in the food and wines of his time. “We conjure from him an offbeat meeting place strongly guided by his inner consciousness,” a recent store newsletter noted. “He inspires us daily to keep our food and library simple, harmonious, and of the utmost quality.”

Greenlight Bookstore Pops Up at Play Kids

Beginning this month, Brooklyn, New York’s Greenlight Bookstore will host a pop-up shop at Play Kids toy store, located in the nearby neighborhood of Prospect Lefferts Gardens. The pop-up shop will feature a selection of children’s books hand-selected by Greenlight and will be managed by Greenlight’s offsite sales manager, Annie Trizna.

“Local partnerships are the best way forward for independent businesses like ours,” said Jessica Stockton Bagnulo, who co-owns Greenlight with Rebecca Fitting. “Our partnership with Play Kids is a new model for us, but it’s in the spirit of our ongoing commitment to becoming a local Brooklyn institution that serves its community.”

Play Kids, established in 2011 by Carl Black and Shelley Kramer, focuses on toys and games, sourced from small and locally owned companies, that stimulate children and that grow with a child and his or her family. The shop also has an event space for classes in art, science, and music.

Phoenix Books Holds Grand Opening for Rutland Branch

On September 28, Phoenix Books held a ribbon cutting for its Rutland store, the third Phoenix Books location in Vermont, reported the Addison Eagle. The shop will be managed by Tricia Huebner, who is a minority owner in the business with her husband, Tom Huebner.

“We could not be happier to be in Rutland,” said Michael DeSanto, who co-owns Phoenix Books with his wife, Renée Reiner. “The energy and forward momentum in the community are contagious, and have inspired us throughout our journey, from the initial idea to today’s grand opening. It’s a palpable force.”

Rutland Mayor Chris Louras called the bookstore “a spectacular addition to downtown and a symbol of the ongoing rebirth of the city at large. The space, the inventory, and the staff will bring new life to Center Street and complement the growing stable of businesses that have contributed to downtown’s renaissance.”

To facilitate its opening, Phoenix Books used a “community supported enterprise” model, which invited friends and supporters to pre-buy books to help fund startup costs for the new store.

BookPeople of Moscow Celebrates Anniversary of First Thursday

On October 1, BookPeople of Moscow is celebrating the second anniversary of Moscow First Thursday, which brings together the community of Moscow, Idaho, to review and appreciate artwork from various local artists. For 40 years, the bookstore has strived to work alongside fellow local businesses and artists and to bring the community together for such events, co-manager and buyer Jesica DeHart told the University of Idaho’s The Argonaut.

“It is so fun to see so many people out strolling downtown, whether in the dark of winter or in the warmth of fall,” DeHart said. “It is a great way for artists and musicians to get their work out and for businesses to get foot traffic through their door.”

This year, BookPeople will spotlight artwork by children’s book illustrators at nearby One World Café. Artwork by illustrators Scott Nash, Nancy Gibson Nash, and Rilla Alexander will be on display.