The middle of August was marked by transitions. Weller Book Works in Salt Lake City turned 85, while 10-year-old breathe bookstore café in Baltimore, Md., was put up for sale by owner Susan Weis-Bohlen. And former Book Depository managing director Kieron Smith launched a beta version of an online bookstore intended to replicate shopping in a physical store, The Best Little Bookshop. It also became official that all nine regionals will participate in Independent Bookstore Day next May.
Openings
International online boutique goes live: Former Book Depository managing director Kieron Smith launched the beta version of The Best Little Bookshop, an online store intended to mimic the physical bookstore experience. The store will sell books in 100 countries and 19 currencies.
White Mountain moves and opens bookstore: The small Northern Ontario press, White Mountain Publications, which specializes in nonfiction and poetry, moved to a new storefront in Cobalt, where it opened a new and used bookstore.
Transitions
Weller Book Works turns 85: On August 23, Weller Book Works in Salt Lake City (formerly Zion Book Store) will celebrate its 85th birthday, although it claims it doesn’t look a day over 65.
New owner for Bookmark: Dan and Marlene MacDonald bought the 42-year-old Halifax independent after founder Rodney Jones’s death last year.
BookSmart launches Indiegogo campaign: Brad Jones and Cinda Meister, owners of BookSmart in Morgan Hill and San Jose, Calif., are trying to raise $300,000 to save their store. They invite funders to become stockholders.
For Sale
Breathe for sale: In a store e-newsletter, Susan Weis-Bohlen announced that she is putting ten-year-old breath bookstore café in Baltimore, Md., on the market and marking down inventory 20%. She plans to move her business to her home in Reisterstown, Md.
New Ideas
Independent Bookstore Day: It’s official; all the regional bookselling associations will support Independent Bookstore Day on May 2, 2015.
The Oxford Exchange adds Rizzoli Studio: The upscale Tampa Bay, Fl., bookstore is making room for a Rizzoli-branded boutique, or store-within-a-store.
Strand Subscriptions: In October, the Strand Bookstore in New York City is launching three first edition book clubs for adult, young adult, and art/photography frontlist titles.
Closing Time
Brown Dog to close: “After careful consideration and some hard decisions,” Natacha Liuzzi announced that she is closing six-year-old Brown Dog Books and Gifts in Hinesburg, Vt., next week.
St. Paul B&N to Close: The Barnes & Noble in St. Paul’s Highland Park will close to make way for the second TargetExpress, which will open in July 2015. No date has been given for the bookstore’s closing.
News From Binc
New board members: Mary Jane Karwoski (Books-A-Million) and Annie Philbrick (Bank Square Books) joined the board of directors for the organization dedicated to booksellers assistance, which was named a Top-Rated 2014 Nonprofit.
