Despite the heat, summer has been anything but slow when it comes to bookselling. Three stores got new owners so far this month, two pop-up stores are about to open, and last weekend’s Chicago indie bookstore day pushed sales up 18% in Chicagoland. To cool off, booksellers keep coming up with innovative ideas, like the new “friends with benefits” program at Skylight Books in Los Angeles.
Changing Hands
Two employees buy Women & Children First: The Chicago bookstore, one of the few remaining feminist bookstores in the country, is about to have new owners who will stay true to its founding principles.
New owner for Giovanni’s Room: The country’s oldest LGBT bookstore, Giovanni’s Room in Philadelphia, Pa., is about to reopen with a new, not-yet-disclosed, owner. The changeover will take place August 1.
Book “adventuress” buys Orinda Books: Former bookstore employee Maria Roden and her husband, Daniel Roden, purchased the 38-year-old Orinda, Calif., store at the beginning of this month.
Bright Idea
Friends with benefits promotion at Skylight: New members of Skylight Books in Los Angeles, and those who renew their membership, receive a free book provided by Hachette Book Group, dubbed by the bookstore as “a welcomed ally in this venture.”
Signed & Delivered
Titcomb’s offering signed Lemony Snicket titles: From now through August 17, Daniel Handler fans can order personalized books exclusively from Titcomb’s Bookshop in East Sandwich, Mass.
On the Up and Up
Up sales for Chicagoland: With s boost from Chicago Independent Bookstore Day, Chicago area bookstore sales rose 18% last week, to nearly 346,000 units, according to Nielsen BookScan.
Pop-up bookstore in Narberth next month: The Press at Toad Hall is opening its first retail location, a pop-up bookstore with more than 2,000 new editions of classics, from August 1-October 31, across from the train station in Narberth, Pa.
Photography bookstore pops-up at the Carnegie Museum of Art: The Sandbox: At Play with the Photobook, which features small press photography books, opened in the Pittsburgh museum’s former cloakroom.
Openings & Closings
BAM adds store in Beckley, W. Va.: In mid-August, Books-A-Million will open at Cranberry Creek shopping center; a grand opening will be held on August 21.
Diesel to close in Malibu this fall: As Racked put it in making the announcement, “bummer news for beachside bookworms.” Diesel, A Bookstore must close its Malibu store by September 21.
B&N closes in Carmel Valley: After 21 years, July 12 was the last day for Barnes & Noble in Del Mar Highlands Town Center in Del Mar, Calif.
