Book Den Owner Marks 35 Years

Eric Kelley, owner of the Book Den [5] in Santa Barbara, California, has been at the bookstore’s helm for 35 years, reported the Santa Barbara Independent [6], and a lot has changed since he arrived on the scene to take over the then 70-year-old store. Though the number of bookstores in town has declined, the paper noted that “Kelley has changed himself and the store, adapting in many ways, learning to use the Internet to sell his occasional rare-book find almost instantaneously, and he’s always had a good hand at picking up the overlooked treasures.”

The store is now a balance of about 40 percent new books and the rest used, and this suits Kelley because he’s able to make deals with customers.

“Today a mom and dad and three kids came in the store and spent some time browsing and when they left, they all found a book,” he told the paper. “And I thought, that’s great, there’s a future for this store, and there’s a future for this culture.”

Rizzoli Plans for Move

New York City’s Rizzoli Bookstore [7], which is being forced to relocate due to pending demolition of its current building, announced that it is closing its doors to the public on April 11. The store has been scouting out new locations in Manhattan and has seen several promising spaces. The bookstore will be providing updates via the store’s website [7] and Facebook page [8].

Rizzoli is hosting a moving sale leading up to the bookstore’s closure, with all books discounted 40 percent both in store and online. During the store’s transition, Rizzoli’s e-commerce website [7] will be fully operational.

Left Bank Hosts Party at Police Station

Left Bank Books [9] in St. Louis, Missouri, recently hosted a roaring ’20s-themed “Party at the Police Station” to celebrate the paperback release of  Suzanne Rindell’s The Other Typist (Amy Einhorn Books/Putnam), whose main character is a typist in a police precinct.

The event, which was held at a local art gallery and featured a jazz band and an appearance by Left Bank co-owner Kris Kleindienst, was covered by Fox 2 News [10].