The second semester has hardly begun at some colleges and universities, but a number of bookstores are already in transition—some moving, others closing. And Amazon continues to push into the textbook market. Beginning in May, UMass, Amherst students will be ordering and renting textbooks from Amazon, their official school store. It’s the third university bookstore to cut a deal with the mega-retailer. University of California, Davis, and Purdue have already embraced students and faculty shopping on Amazon.
Openings & Closings
Pages Bookshop Pops Up in Detroit: When a location on Livernois fell through, Susan Murphy changed the name of her store from Pages on Livernois to Pages Bookshop. This week she opened a pop-up store while she continues to look for a permanent space.
BAM to Open In Bluefield, W.V.: Renovations are under way for the newest Books-A-Million store, slated to open next month in the Mercer Mall.
Colorado Bookstore “On the Hill” to Close: The Boulder bookstore that has served University of Colorado students for eight decades lost its lease and must be out by May.
University of Alaska Southeast Closes Bookstore: UAS vice chancellor for administration Michael Ciri told AP that the Juneau, Alaska, store had been operating at a loss for years.
Other News
Binc Accepting Scholarship Applications: Booksellers and their families have until February 27 to apply for $200,000 worth of college scholarships, including a Tribute Scholarship dedicated to Karl Pohrt.
Bonnie Slotnick Finds a Home: It’s official. Bonnie Slotnick Cookbooks, which lost its lease, has a new home in the former home of Eden Ross Lipson, a book review editor for The New York Times Book Review.
Fountainhead Bookstore Expands: The five-year-old Hendersonville, N.C., store is adding another 700 sq. ft. for book club meetings, large events, and a history exhibit.
Aspen’s Explore Bookstore Sold: The sale of the popular bookstore for $5 million to a limited liability corporation established by nonprofits under the umbrella of the Public Interest Network will be finalized today.
Bear Pond Books to Merge with Rivendell: In March, Claire Benedict and her husband, Rob Kasow, are combining their two Montpelier, Vt., stores and merging the inventory of 12-year-old Rivendell Books with that of 41-year-old Bear Pond.
Bogart’s Books & Cafe in Millville for Sale: The South Jersey bookstore, which opened in the Glasstown Arts District eight years ago, went on the market earlier this week.
Finally Found Books to Remain Open: Despite rumors to the contrary, the Auburn, Wash., store is profitable and owner Todd Hulbert has no plans to close. But he would like to sell the store and try something new.
Amazon to Operate Online School Store for UMass, Amherst: Students buying or renting textbooks at the official campus store for UMass will be doing it through Amazon, starting in May. Part of the school’s textbook annex will become an Amazon pick-up location.
Grand Valley State University Bookstore to Move: The new GVSU bookstore in Allendale, Mich., which is double the size of the original store built in 1973, will occupy three floors; its warehouse will be located in the basement to make it easier to access overstock.
