Around Indies

Here’s what’s happening in the world of indie bookstores this week:

Avoid the Day Bookstore, Bar, & Café in Rockaway Beach, New York, is planning to open its permanent storefront next month.

After a series of pop-ups, Tombolo Books in St. Petersburg, Florida, has opened its permanent location.

Volumes Bookcafe’s second location is now open in Chicago, Illinois. The store was also included in an article about independent bookstores thriving in the digital age.

Dickens Children’s Books & Publishing in Vancouver, Washington, is under new ownership.

In New York City, McNally Jackson booksellers and baristas will vote on unionizing this Thursday.

Charley Rejsek has been named general manager of BookPeople in Austin, Texas.

Noëlle Santos of The Lit. Bar in the Bronx, New York, was profiled by Chase in the article “Meet the entrepreneur who brought bookstores back to the Bronx.”

E. Shaver, Bookseller in Savannah, Georgia, was featured in an article about the return of indie bookstores.

Browseabout Books in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware, was included in an article about indie bookstores making a comeback.

Austin360 profiled Lark & Owl Booksellers in Georgetown, Texas.

The Delaware Art Museum Store is “leaning in as an indie bookstore,” according to Technical.ly. 

Glamour profiled Leah and Bea Koch, the owners of Culver City, California’s The Ripped Bodice, in an article called “The Ripped Bodice Was the First Romance Bookstore in the Country. For the Sisters Who Opened It, It’s a Love Story.”

Reviews from many member booksellers were included on Forbes’ list of the 10 most anticipated books of 2020.

Brookline Booksmith, Harvard Book Store, Porter Square Books, and Trident Booksellers and Café were featured in an article called “These are the 18 best books of 2019, according to local experts.”

Blue Willow Bookshop’s Valerie Koehler appeared on Great Day Houston to share her recommendations for the holiday season.

Malaprop’s Bookstore/Cafe in Asheville, North Carolina, made holiday gift recommendations for The Citizen Times.

Book Revue and Berry & Co. were included in an article on literary tourism on Long Island, New York. 

The Book Cellar in Lake Worth, Florida, was featured in an article called “The Book Cellar: The indie bookstore with a thriving jazz and poetry scene.” The store is also opening a café.

The TreeHouse Reading & Arts Center in New York Mills, New York, is collecting pajamas for children in need.

The Chicago Tribune made a tribute to the late owner of Books on First in Dixon, Illinois.

Charlie’s Corner in San Francisco, California, was featured in an article called “Children’s bookstore Charlie’s Corner gets a second chance after community outpouring.”

Share your news in Around Indies! E-mail [email protected] with photos and details of what’s new at your store, whether it’s opening for business, moving to a new location, expanding, changing ownership, hosting a special event, or celebrating a milestone anniversary.