Several bookstores are celebrating or getting ready for big milestones this week. Maple Street Book Shop in New Orleans has an entire 50th anniversary weekend planned, starting this evening, while Kepler's Books in Menlo Park, Calif., which at one time looked like it might not survive, is preparing for its 60th.

Other good news includes two successful transitions. Two long-time employees of Cannon Beach Book Company, invited customers to raise a glass of bubbly with them and mark the store's next chapter under their ownership. And 42-year-old Lift Bridge in Brockport, N.Y., announced that two of its former employees will buy the store in a deal that will be finalized on January 1.

This Weekend
Manhattan Lit Crawl: This Saturday’s East Village Lit Crawl includes events at the newly reopened St. Mark’s Bookshop.

Maple Street Book Shop’s 50th Anniversary: The New Orleans store is celebrating its first half century, starting tonight with an author reception; tomorrow is kids day.

Changing Hands
Two Former Employees Buy Lift Bridge: On January 1, John Bonczyk and Cody Steffen will become the new proprietors of the 42-year-old bookstore in Brockport, N.Y., founded by Archie and Pat Kutz.

Cannon Beach Company Sold to Long-Time Employees: Three months after the death of bookstore owner and co-founder Valerie Ryan, Maureen Dooley-Sroufe and Deb Mersereau have taken over ownership of the Cannon Beach, Ore., store.

Openings
Creative Corners Opens in Topeka: The new bookstore, gallery, and gift store, which opened late last week, plans to add a writer’s reference library in coming months.

New Vegas Bookstore with Printing Press: Scott Seeley and Drew Cohen will open Writer’s Block early next month, a bookstore with a space for bookmaking, which includes a letterset press.

Kudos
Gibson’s Wins Independent Spirit Award: The Concord, N.H., bookstore has been singled out for excellence by Book Publishers Representatives of New England.

Maplewood Chamber Honors [words] Bookstore: Maplewood, N.J., bookstore owners Jonah and Ellen Zimiles will be feted at the annual distinguished service award dinner later this month.

Kepler’s Readies for 60th: The Menlo Park, Calif., institution has overcome financial setbacks to mark its first sixty years in 2015.

Finally Found Donates $30,000 to Teachers: Todd Hulbert, owner of the Auburn, Wash., bookstore, gave a $10 gift certificate to the store to every teacher in two area school districts.

Expansion
Periscope Bookstore Adds Rare Book Room: The Forest Grove, Ore., bookstore, which specializes in used books and new books from local authors, has amassed enough first editions and rare titles to open a dedicated room.

Closings
B&N in DeKalb: The national bookseller will close its DeKalb, Ill., location when the lease expires on December 31.

Baker Books to Close Physical Store: After downsizing two years ago, the Dartmouth, Mass., bookstore is closing its physical location this fall, and, at 25, will embark on a second life as online only.