Around Indies

Stephanie Hochschild Prepares as New Owner of The Book Stall

Stephanie Hochschild, new owner of The Book Stall at Chestnut Court in Winnetka, Illinois, recently shared her plans for the store with the Chicago Tribune. Hochschild, a lifelong reader, prepared for taking over the store by volunteering at the Book Stall and seeking advice from other staff members. Hochschild purchased the store from Roberta Rubin last year.

“It has been a lifelong dream,” said Hochschild. “Whenever (my family) travels, we always make a point to visit whatever local bookstore there is, and I always leave with something in my hand. I admire people’s books in their homes. Books are something I have been drawn to my whole life.”

BookBar Opens In Denver

On May 28, BookBar opened its doors to Denver’s Berkeley neighborhood. After witnessing the closing of two bookshops in the area in 2012, owner Nicole Sullivan set out to create a new business model. Sullivan recognized the necessity of a bookstore in this cultural district and hopes that the combination of books and bar will create a space that will keep the community coming back for refreshments, books, and events.

Prior to the store’s opening, Sullivan shared her plans for the store with Bookselling This Week.

In addition to community organized events, BookBar plans to host author events, children’s story hours, book discussion nights, and much more.

Brooklyn’s BookCourt to Add Bar

BookCourt, in Brooklyn, New York, is planning to open an in-store bar, which will serve wine, beer, juices, and snacks. Relocating the shop’s cookbook section, the eight-foot bar will overlook about five tables placed under a skylight at the back of the store.

“People have been telling us to do it for 20 years,” Zack Zook, events and development manager, told DNAinfo.

RiverRun Bookstore to Open New Store in September

RiverRun Bookstore, in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, has announced on its blog plans to open a small store in Kittery, Maine.  
RiverRun Foreside will carry both new and used books and will be in vicinity to a coffee shop and juice bar. “Why are we doing this?” the blog post read. “Because we care about our Maine customers and don't want to lose them.”

Beach Books Recognized for High Ethical Standards

Beach Books, in Seaside, Oregon, has received the city’s “High Ethical Standards Award” for its integral role in the local business community and its reputation for high ethical standards and trust among business associates. In presenting the award, Rotarian Russ Vandenberg said, “Not only has Beach Books survived, but it has thrived thanks to the high ethical standards, exceptional customer service, and community involvement.”

Moravian Book Shop Displays Under The Dome

In time for the new CBS miniseries based on Stephen King’s Under The Dome, the staff at Moravian Book Shop, in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, created a creative display to introduce customers to the book.

Books on Broad Celebrates First Anniversary

On Wednesday, Books on Broad in Camden, South Carolina, celebrated its first anniversary.

To celebrate the store hosted a Business Before Hours event with the Kershaw County Chamber of Commerce, where the bookstore held a ribbon-cutting for its new coffee shop. In addition, Books on Broad is celebrating by having “Frappy Hour” all month long and serving half-price ice-blended drinks and smoothies Tuesdays through Fridays, 3:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Owners Bill and Laurie Funderburk look forward to the future. “Opening a bookstore has been a wonderful experience, and we are thankful for the encouragement of our community,” said Bill Funderburk. “This is an exciting time to be a bookseller, and we hope that trends will continue to show support for local bricks-and-mortar stores that strive to create a vibrant atmosphere and connect readers to writers and the book experience.”

New England Mobile Book Fair Featured

The New England Mobile Book Fair, a Newton Highlands literary landmark, was featured in a Boston Globe article that looked at owner Tom Lyons’ initiatives to modernize and streamline operations and implement new store offerings.

The store is bulking up its online presence by selling books and e-books on its website, posting book reviews and event photos on its Facebook page, and e-mailing a weekly newsletter. Ultimately, Lyons plans to have the store’s approximately 200,000 titles uploaded into a computerized inventory system. In the future, Lyons hopes to have a GPS app for navigating the sprawling store.

The Mobile Book Fair is also aggressively pursuing deals with schools, libraries, adult education programs, and religious groups, and they are inviting student groups in to have the run of the store, with a portion of their purchases benefiting their schools.

A Very Little Bookstore Celebrates One Year

Last Saturday, A Very Little Bookstore, in Summerville, South Carolina, celebrated its first anniversary, reported Summerville Patch. The store celebrated with local author Peter Cotton, who read from his books, accompanied by puppets. 

Crafts and balloons were on hand, and Summerville Sweets provided treats.