BTW News Briefs

Cold Spring May Not Lose Its Independent After All

It looks as if Cold Spring, the historic New York town named by George Washington during America's fight for Independence, will keep its own independent bookstore. The town's Salmagundi Bookstore is closing, but plans are in the works for Scott Meyer, owner of Merritt Bookstores Vol. I and II in nearby Dutchess County, to take over the space. The store will most likely be called Merritt Bookstore Vol. III.

Meyer told BTW that he has made arrangements with the landlord, and, though no papers are yet signed, will reopen the store possibly by May 1, but probably by mid-May. He reported that he has already hired some staff and is looking for more.

Meyer said he first became aware of the store's closing when a listener to the radio program for which he's a regular guest, WAMC's The Roundtable -- which includes booktalk by several local independent booksellers -- called in to tell him about Salmagundi's imminent closing and asked him to be part of a joint venture in opening another bookstore in the Salmagundi space. The caller was ultimately unable to go through with the business plan, but Meyer assumed the entire responsibility. Though sad about the closing of an independent bookstore, Meyer said, "I always thought about Cold Spring for a store. I went down to visit the store and fell in love with it. I talked with people in the community, including authors, and they were all very happy. I hope we can make a go of it."

Keeping Austin Weird Campaign Airs on National Financial Program

Marketplace Morning Report, the general-interest business program produced by Minnesota Public Radio and heard on 330 public radio stations nationwide, recently aired a feature about the Austin Independent Business Alliance (AIBA); its president, Steve Bercu, owner of Austin's BookPeople; and the successful "Keep Austin Weird" campaign. In the segment, Marketplace reporter Michael May described the AIBA as a proactive approach to the loss of local businesses due to the proliferation of national chain stores. To hear the segment, click on: http://www.marketplace.org/morning_report/2004/03/04_mmr.html. To read more about the Austin Independent Business Alliance, click here.

Dutton's Brentwood to Open Second Store

Dutton's Brentwood Books recently announced that it will be opening a second store, Dutton's Beverly Hills Books. The new store will open in this fall with author events and festivities. The second location will be a general bookstore and, in a release, it was noted that the new bookstore "will serve the community in the same way that Dutton's Brentwood Books has and will continue to."