About Bookstores

Here, R.J. Julia Booksellers founder Roxanne Coady shares the history of book subscription service Just The Right Book, along with a humorous bit of customer feedback.

“It’s easy to forget how intimidating a bookstore can be for some customers,” said Kerry Halls of Auntie’s Bookstore. “Displays provide a really friendly access point for people who maybe don’t have the time or energy to get lost in the stacks.”

In celebration of this year’s Earth Day on Monday, April 22, booksellers shared the ways indie bookstores can incorporate green practices and policies into their stores year-round. 

The year-to-date’s openings include a bilingual bookstore and community space, the signature bookstore for a literature nonprofit, new branches of established bookstores, and more.

This April, booksellers nationwide are sharing their favorite poems and promoting poetry events on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram in honor of National Poetry Month.

Indie stores highlighted by Voice of America; The Story House, [words], Porter Square, McNally Jackson, Midtown Scholar, Walls of Books to open new locations; Turning Page, Alibi to open; Byrd’s Books owner, Second Star to the Right honored; EyeSeeMe, Main Point, Narberth, Towne Book Center, Papercuts J.P., Talking Leaves, River Dog featured in local news; Karlee Nussbaum joins Women & Children First

“We all know most pre-orders go to the ‘Big A’ company, even though those customers shop with us as well,” says Liberty Bay Books owner Suzanne Droppert. “We’d like to keep more of that business.” 

LifeTown is a 53,000-square-foot center that aims to redefine the landscape for individuals with special needs via recreational, therapeutic, and educational facilities. 

The Lit. Bar owner announced that grand opening plans for the store are currently underway. 

“I grew up with this bookstore,” said Evan Schertz, son of Andrea Avantaggio and Peter Schertz. “I’m very excited to step in to learn all I can and lead Maria’s Bookshop into the next chapter.”

Changing Hands, Title Wave celebrate anniversaries; Bookbub, Uproxx, VisitDallas.com, Hoodline name top bookstores in U.S.; River House Books named best in Monterey County; Powell's, San Marino Toy and Book Shoppe, Hub City, Bennington Bookshop featured in local news; Tom Gerald retires.

Prairie Lights in Iowa City, located in the swing state of Iowa, recently hosted 2020 presidential candidates Marianne Williamson and Andrew Yang. 

The Women’s National Book Association awarded this year’s Pannell Awards to 57th Street Books in Chicago and to Hicklebee’s Bookstore in San Jose, California.

Literati Bookstore in Ann Arbor, Michigan, was named Publishers Weekly’s 2019 Bookstore of the Year; PW chose Cindy Heidemann as its 2019 Sales Rep of the Year.

Teicher talked about independent bookstores with Lenny Mendonca, owner of Half Moon Bay Brewing Company and director of California’s Office of Business and Economic Development.