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Austy’s Opens in Indiana

Dusty Baker opened Austy’s Bookseller and Meeting Room in Salem, Indiana, on August 23, reported the Salem Leader. The store’s name is a combination of Dusty’s name and her son Austin’s.

Baker reused everything possible from the building, which formerly housed antique store Clara’s Attic, and, before that, a confectionery, a newspaper, and a beauty salon.

“I think it’s representative of the community,” said Baker. “We’re bringing back a historic building and restoring it to what it originally was — a bookseller’s — and I think just being on the square, it’s a comfortable, down-to-earth place. It’s a place where people in the community can come together.”

A meeting room in the center of the shop is available for customers who want to use Wi-Fi, charge their devices, or sip on tea and coffee sold in the bookstore.

I AM Books Marks Two Years

Nicola Orichuia and Jim Pinzino are marking two years in business for their Boston bookstore, I AM Books, reported the Boston Globe.

Orichuia ran the Bostoniano website and print magazine, which highlighted events and information of interest to Italian-Americans, from 2011 to 2016, according to the Globe, and opened the bookstore as an extension of that work.

I AM Books features items with an Italian connection, including maps, guides for tourists, playing cards, gifts, greeting cards, and more. Books include cookbooks and Italian language books, as well as a selection for kids. Orichuia said he is looking to begin hosting literary and musical events in the store.

“Hopefully we will continue to grow the business,” said Orichuia, “but if you’re providing a service that people are happy with, that’s what ultimately makes your day.”

Tubby & Coo’s to Celebrate Three Years

Tubby & Coo’s Mid-City Bookshop, located in New Orleans, Louisiana, will mark its third anniversary over Labor Day Weekend.

“As we enter our fourth year of business, our celebration this year is all about launching new programs and events,” owner Candice Huber announced in a recent newsletter. “We will be handing out information and answering questions about our new Board Game Club, board game rentals, board game exchange, used book exchange, events and event space rentals, birthday parties and baby showers, and publishing programs.”

This weekend’s events will include an opportunity for local board game developers to test and demonstrate their games at the store’s new board game club; a day of board games from the 1980s; a round of 1980s and 1990s trivia; a read-aloud session of Ernest Cline’s Ready Player One (Broadway Books); and Saturday morning cartoons from the 1980s and 1990s.