Around Indies

Black Dog Books Opens in New Jersey

Catherine Cassidy opened Black Dog Books in Newton, New Jersey, on July 9, reported the New Jersey Herald. A retired nurse, Cassidy, who has worked in a bookstore in the past, always had the dream of owning a bookshop.

“I woke up in the middle of the night one night this past April and said I was going to do it,” she told the Herald. The general-interest bookstore, named after her dog, Yeava, features literary fiction titles, history books, and biographies, as well as children’s books, mysteries, thrillers, and nonfiction.

Black Dog Books is located next door to Between the Bread restaurant, and Cassidy is pleased with the space. “People can come enjoy a coffee from next door, read, and enjoy being around other people who love books,” she said.

The store also hosts both English and Spanish story times for kids. “We have both English and Spanish language books, not only because of the area’s Hispanic citizens, but also because the Newton schools teach Spanish to the students,” Cassidy said.

Omaha’s Bookworm Marks 30 Years

The Bookworm in Omaha, Nebraska, is celebrating 30 years in business this year. Owned by Phillip and Beth Black, the bookstore opened in 1986.

In recognition of the store’s many decades in business, the Omaha World-Herald ran back-to-back stories on the bookstore, recognizing it as an ideal nook for readers and authors and detailing the many authors of note who have visited the store over the years.

Of the many authors and celebrities the store has hosted, the newspaper highlighted Stephen King, Ben Carson, Warren Buffet, Condoleezza Rice, Henry Winkler, David Sedaris, and Jane Smiley.

Pennsylvania’s Main Point Books Relocates

Main Point Books reopened in a new space in Wayne, Pennsylvania, on July 28, reported Main Line Suburban. “Wayne has that feeling of a town center,” said store owner Cathy Fiebach. “This is a great community for a bookstore.”

Fiebach opened the bookstore in Bryn Mawr in 2013 and earlier this year was offered a rent incentive from a developer to move to the new location, which is 25 percent bigger and now features an expanded children’s book department. The storefront formerly housed the Readers’ Forum bookstore.

In the new spot, located near a train station and other retailers, Fiebach plans to host after-school events and to take advantage of the many authors living in the greater Philadelphia area.

“People come to bookstores when they have leisure time,” said Fiebach. “We’re the perfect spot to hang out a little while, to spend a half hour down time between dinner and a movie.”

Gulliver’s Books Voted Best Bookstore

Fairbanks, Alaska’s Gulliver’s Books was named the city’s best bookstore by the Fairbanks Daily News-Miner.

Now owned by Christy and Bryan Wiskeman, loyal customers who purchased the store in 2012, the 31-year-old store is a venue for local authors and artists to showcase their work. “We’re incredibly proud of our Alaska collection,” Christy Wiskeman said. “What’s really, really important to us is maintaining that.”

The Wiskemans credited both the store’s outstanding staff and the local community for much of its success, especially as the state’s economy slows. “I would just encourage everybody to support their neighbors and friends and local businesses and nonprofits,” Bryan Wiskeman said. “It can actually draw us closer together.”