Around Indies

Northshire to Host Festivities for 40th Anniversary

Northshire Bookstore, which has locations in Manchester Center, Vermont, and Saratoga Springs, New York, is celebrating its 40th anniversary with an entire weekend of activities running September 9–11, reported the Bennington Banner.

Barbara and Ed Morrow opened the bookstore in Vermont in 1976 and moved it into a former inn in the 1980s, where it remains today; the Saratoga Springs branch opened in 2013. Chris Morrow, son of Barbara and Ed, is now co-owner and manager of the stores.

This weekend’s events include a performance by Vermont comedian Michael Kingsbury, signings with authors Wendy Walker and Richard Russo, and food and drink samplings with local vendors. The store will also offer games, giveaways, story times, and scratch-off tickets for discounts. The Readers Rewards Member Appreciation Sale Weekend will also be underway, giving 20 percent off to store members throughout the weekend.

The King’s English Celebrates 39 Years

Salt Lake City’s The King’s English Bookshop is inviting customers in to help celebrate its 39th birthday on September 10, reported the Salt Lake Tribune. The store will host a book sale, author signings, a coloring contest, story times, and a pooch parade, and customers will be invited to partake in cake and libations.

Betsy Burton, ABA president and co-owner of the bookstore with Anne Holman, told the Tribune that indie bookstores “are doing spectacularly well across the country … I think there’s a wonderful change going on across the country.” Sales at The King’s English were up about 25 percent in the first half of the year, she added.

Rediscovered Books Marks a Decade in Business

The staff of Rediscovered Books welcomes customers during the store's 10th anniversary celebration.

Boise, Idaho’s Rediscovered Books, which Laura and Bruce Delaney opened 10 years ago, celebrated its anniversary on Saturday, September 3, reported the Idaho Statesman.

“It’s a hugely good feeling to be so well cared for by our customers who make the decision to buy local,” said Laura Delaney.

The celebration included book bingo, special discounts, poetry contests, cookies, and a performance by the Boise State University Graduate String Quartet.

Anderson’s to Open Toy Store in Naperville

On September 10, Anderson’s Bookshop, which has locations in Naperville, Downers Grove, and La Grange, Illinois, will debut the new Anderson’s Toyshop two doors down from its Naperville store, reported the Chicago Tribune.

The 2,000-square-foot store was previously occupied by the bookstore’s gift shop, Two Doors East. It will stock games, stuffed animals, and toys from popular companies. “We’ve always carried toys … but this allows us to expand our toy inventory,” said Anderson’s employee Candy Purdom. “This will be a very playful space, so colorful and exciting.”

The September 10 grand opening for Anderson’s Toyshop will feature kid-based activities including character story times and crafts.

Kepler’s Seeks Input on Nonprofit Literary Arts Organization

Kepler’s Books in Menlo Park, California, is asking friends and customers to help the store rename its nonprofit literary arts organization. Kepler’s is planning to make the project, currently called Peninsula Arts & Letters, an independent nonprofit with a separate legal and organizational structure as a 501(c)3 public charity.

Through a short survey, respondents can share their thoughts on current programs offered by the organization, ideas for names, and community benefits that may be important to the mission of the nonprofit, all of which will help Kepler’s refine the mission and establish a new name for the nonprofit project.

Responses are due by Friday, September 9. 

Vroman’s Allison Hill on Running a Successful Indie Bookstore

Allison Hill, president and CEO of Vroman’s Bookstore in Pasadena, California, and Book Soup in West Hollywood, recently shared her insights about the book business with Inkshares, a crowd-driven publisher.

Hill, who started at Vroman’s in 2004 and has been in bookselling for 24 years, talked with Inkshares about how she got her start in books, how bookstore buyers learn about new books, and what authors can do to connect with booksellers.

Regarding the keys to running a successful indie bookstore, Hill said, “The answers to this question seem obvious — passionate booksellers, an awesome selection, hard work, but clearly that’s not all it takes because we’ve lost a lot of great bookstores that possessed all of those characteristics. Ultimately, I think it requires resilience, adaptability, attention to the bottom line, creativity, a strong sense of identity, and passionate booksellers, an awesome selection, and hard work.”