This week saw two 40th anniversaries (Broadside Bookshop in Northampton, Mass., and Aunt Bonnie’s in Helena, Mont.), the opening and reopening of four new bookstores, and the announced opening of a new Miami-based Books and Books. And, this weekend, there will be a number of book-related goings-on, including the Brooklyn Book Festival.
This Weekend
The Ninth Annual Brooklyn Book Festival: The BBF is back from 10a.m. to 6p.m. at Brooklyn Borough Hall and the adjacent Columbus Park, rain or shine.
Banned Books Week: The American Booksellers Association and the American Library Association, are among the book-related nonprofits, along with bookstores, that will shine a light on banned books, starting this Sunday.
Opening Night for Nonprofit Indie in St. Paul: Daybreak International Bookstore, which features books on social justice, religion/spirituality, women’s issues, and children’s books, is holding its grand opening this evening.
Broadside Bookshop Turns 40: The Northampton, Mass., bookstore is celebrating its first four decades with a two-day sale, readings, and a party, starting today.
Aunt Bonnie’s Books & Gifts Celebrates Its 40th: The Helena, Mont., new and used bookstore will hold a birthday party this Saturday.
Openings and Reopenings
Books & Books Adds a New Store in Miami: As reported in the Miami Herald, the iconic bookstore is expanding once more and adding a fourth bookstore and restaurant in Miami. That’s not counting its airport store, museum store, or location in the Cayman Islands.
Art Bookstore to Open in Chicago’s West Loop: Kavi Gupta Gallery will open Editions today, which will carry monographs, zines, and rare artist editions and out-of-print art books.
The Novel Neighbor Now Open: This general bookstore with objects by local artisans in the Webster Groves suburb of St. Louis had a soft opening earlier this week.
All-Star Line Up for Reopening of Books and Cookies: Ashlee Simpson and mother-in-law Diana Ross were among the celebs at sister-in-law Chudney Ross’s Santa Monica, Calif., bookstore.
Kudos
Indie Booksellers Making a Come Back in Wyoming: Wind City Books in Casper and City News Cheyenne are among the stores profiled.
Half Price Thriving in an Amazon World: The large indie chain built around used books has found the right formula in a high tech world and has seen revenues rise from $50 million in 1995 to $240 million in 2013.
New Ventures
Molasses in Brooklyn Turns Publisher: The Brooklyn used bookstore and bar is becoming a publisher, too, starting with short stories by owner Matt Winn, Clowncar & Exquisite Starvation.
Closings
Paper Peddler in Avalon, N.J.: Changing demographics are among the reasons for the closing of the 44-year-old bookstore on the Jersey shore.
RiverRun in Kittery: On October 1, the Portsmouth, N.H., bookstore will shutter its year-old second location across the line in Maine.
