The unofficial start of the fall season is beginning with a lot of good news, including a ribbon-cutting and grand-reopening for Orinda Books in Orinda, Calif., this weekend, and two soon-to-be-opened bookstores, Abet Books and Games in Freeport, Ill., and Short Stories Community Book Hub in Madison, N.J.
Several stores are marking significant anniversaries this month: Logos Bookstore in Dallas turns 40, Reread Books in Lynnwood, Was., is 25, and Velvetten Bookstore & Guest House in Fort Atkins, Wisc., is 20. In addition, as part of the City of Chicago's program to honor groups, businesses, and individuals, Women & Children First will have a part of a street named for it.
This Weekend
Grand Reopening of Orinda Books: The Orinda, Calif., bookstore is offering discounts, goody bags, and cupcakes as part of Saturday’s gala, which also celebrates Orinda’s new owners, Maria and Danny Roden.
Kerrytown Bookfest SundayThe bookfest, which will take place on Sunday at the Ann Arbor Farmers Market, celebrates the success of indie bookstores like Aunt Agatha’s Mystery Book Shop and Literati in a post-Borders community.
Openings
New Bookstore in Freeport, Ill.: Abet Books and Games, which will also have a strong comics section, will open in downtown Freeport in November.
Kudos
Logos Bookstore Marks 40th: The Christian-focused store in Dallas’s Snider Plaza will offer discounts all month long, as well as a weekly drawing for books and gifts.
Street to Be Named for Women & Children First: The City of Chicago will honor the feminist bookstore by naming a portion of Andersonville Street for it next month.
Reread Books Celebrates 25th: Owner James Spangler has spruced up his Lynnwood, Wash., and grown the children’s section at his used bookstore for the anniversary.
Velveteen Bookstore a “Hidden Gem”: The pink Victorian bookstore and guest house in Fort Atkins, Wisc., turns 20 years old.
Campus Bookselling
Rise of Online Sellers: College stores, many with exclusive contracts with Barnes & Noble and Follett, object to Chegg’s presence on campus.
Fundraising
Saving Explorer Bookstore: A group that wants to save Aspen’s only bookstore ran a full-page ad in a local newspaper to express their concerns.
Kickstarter Campaign for New Store in Madison, N.J.: Short Stories Community Book Hub is looking for $15,000 by the end of September to help open its 1,400 sq. ft. store later this month.
E-Fairness
B&N and ABA Support E-fairness: The leading chain bookstore joined indies in promoting e-tax fairness in a letter to U.S. House of Representatives Judiciary Committee Chairman Bob Goodlatte (R-VA).
Closings
Visible Voice to Close: Owner Dave Ferrante is closing the seven-year-old Cleveland, Oh., bookstore named for a song by the alt rock band the Replacements, at the end of the month.
