Books Inc. Welcomes Ken White

Congratulations to ABA Board member Ken White, who is starting today as the manager of the Books Inc. [4]Market Street store in San Francisco. White was previously the trade book manager at SFSU Bookstore.

White’s new contact information is:

Books Inc.
2275 Market Street
San Francisco, CA 94114
(415) 864-6777
[email protected] [5]

Chapter One’s Wathen Named Humanities Hero

Shawn Wathen, co-owner of Chapter One Book Store [6] in Hamilton, Montana, was named a Humanities Hero for 2012, reported KLYQ Hamilton [7]. The Hero awards are given each year by Humanities Montana [8], an affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities, to honor people “who have contributed significantly to the humanities by presenting engaging programs, hosting many humanities events, composing important books and articles about humanities topics, donating funds to sustain humanities work, and more.” 

Wathen is co-owner of the bookstore that is often referred to as the Hamilton “cultural epicenter.” He has a Ph.D. in East European intellectual history and teaches literature seminars at the local library. He also works with local teachers and organizations such as Literacy Bitterroot. The nomination submitted on behalf of Wathen said, “Shawn’s passion for books and ideas has influenced the culture of humanity in the community through reflection, examination and reexamination of core values and cultures.”

Clinton Book Shop’s Dougherty Honored

Rob Dougherty of Clinton Book Shop [9]in Clinton, New Jersey, has been named the Joe Drabyak Handseller of the Year by the New Atlantic Independent Booksellers Association [10].

“Winning the award means so much more because it is in honor of a man I respected and felt proud to say was a very good friend of mine,” said Dougherty. “Joe taught me so much about bookselling and about the art of gaining loyal customers (I called them groupies).” 

 Harvey Finkel, the shop’s owner, said, “The Clinton Book Shop could not have survived the last few tough years without Rob’s handselling and making each and every customer feel special. Rob is a tireless professional, always willing to help customers find that ‘perfect’ read.” 

Dougherty will be honored by us all at the NAIBA Awards Banquet on Saturday, September 29, at the Hyatt Regency Crystal City in Arlington, Virginia.

Changing Hands Postpones Plans for Second Location

Plans for a new Changing Hands Bookstore [11] in central Phoenix have been put on hold, according to the Phoenix Business Journal [12]. The Tempe-based bookstore was trying to work out a deal to open a second location in a 17,900-square-foot Phoenix property, which formerly housed a Beef Eaters restaurant.

Changing Hands was considering leasing space or partnering with a Phoenix-based redevelopment firm to buy the property. The deal has been put on hold and is no longer in escrow. Changing Hands co-owner Cindy Dach told the Journal that, though the Beef Eaters transaction was not finalized, the store still hoped to work out a new deal to locate a new store and cafe at the site.

Oakland Turns Brokeland

To help promote Michael Chabon’s new Telegraph Avenue, HarperCollins Publishers is working with California’s DIESEL, A Bookstore [13] to create a pop-up record store based on Chabon’s fictional Brokeland Records, reported the Wall Street Journal [14].

From September 7 - 14, DIESEL’s Oakland location will sell used jazz records provided by independent record dealer Berigan Taylor. The store’s exterior will display Brokeland Record signs, and Harper is creating Brokeland Records bags, buttons, and stamps for book purchases made during the week. WSJ also noted that there will be a landing page for “DIESEL in Brokeland” on the store’s website, [13] where some of the work already underway can be previewed and store co-owner John Evans shares his love of jazz.

Book Nook & Java Shop Celebrates Grand Opening

Last Thursday, the Book Nook & Java Shop [15] in Montague, Michigan, held a grand opening in its new location. When bookstore owners Bryan Uecker and Mark Murr purchased the former pharmacy, they noted their intentions to honor its history. The bookstore’s 20-foot wine bar is the old pharmacy counter, and the book shelves are made from pieces of wood from the old ceiling. Historical pieces from the surrounding area were also incorporated into the design, including church pews, an old piano, and a front door from an old school.

“There is a lot of history built into this place,” Murr told White Lake Beacon [16].

The store’s new location also includes a performance stage, where it plans to host recitals and concerts, in addition to monthly wine dinners.