Phoenix Books, which has two locations in Vermont, is the latest bookstore to announce plans to add an additional outpost. Its third store will open in Rutland as early as this spring. Writer Brandon Soale and his mother just opened Crab Apple Books in Middletown, Oh. And Shane Gottwals, founder of Gottwals Books and the Walls of Books franchise is readying his eighth store in Spring Hill, Fl. He opened a franchise store in Zanesville, Ohio, on January 10. On opening day, Gottwals told PW, sales at the Ohio store beat the single-day sales record system-wide.
Events
National Readathon Day: The National Book Foundation, Penguin Random House, Mashable, and GoodReads are launching the first Readathon—like a walkathon, but with books—from noon to 4pm on Saturday to raise money for NBN programs.
Openings & Closings
Phoenix Books to Add Rutland Store: Michael DeSanto and his wife, Renee Reiner, who already own bookstores in Burlington and Essex, are planning a third Vermont location.
New Walls of Books Franchise to Open in Florida: Shane Gottwals, founder of Gottwals Books and Walls of Books, is readying his eighth bookstore, which will open February 3 in Spring Hill.
New Bookshop in Middletown, Ohio: Writer Brandon Soale and his mother, Brenda, opened a new and used bookstore, which will also sell gourmet coffee and tea.
Burry Bookstore in Hartsville, S.C., Could Close: After taking a new position as director of campus retail operations at Coker College, Emily Burry Phillips is putting the bookstore her father founded up for sale. If no buyer comes forward, she will close Burry at the end of the year.
Orchard Park, N.Y., Children’s Bookstore to Close: Owner Jane Bell has begun discounting inventory today in advance of closing B Is for Books in April.
Chapters to Close Flagship in Vancouver: High rent is forcing Canada’s largest bookstore chain to shutter the store; but it promises to open another nearby later this year.
Other News
La Casa Azul Receives $150,000 Grant: The East Harlem, N.Y., bookstore was one of 20 recipients of a Chase Mission Main Street grant, and the only bookstore.
Sold-Out Issue of “Charlie Hebdo” Headed to U.S.: A shipment of 20,000 copies of the memorial issue is coming to the U.S. next week, with some destined for Barnes & Noble stores. Three New York City stores—Albertine, Book Culture, and McNally Jackson—each got 100 copies last weekend, which quickly sold out..
Michigan Governor Signs e-Tax Fairness Law
http://www.michigan.gov/snyder/0,4668,7-277--345450--,00.html
Gov. Rick Snyder signed Main Street Fairness legislation that requires shoppers to pay sales tax when purchasing items online from websites with a physical presence in the state. The legislation was approved late last year and will take effect in October.
New Congress, New Sales Tax Bill: U.S. House of Representatives Judiciary Chair Bob Goodlatte (R-VA) has circulated draft sales tax fairness legislation that would require states to base sales tax collection on the tax rate designated in the location of the seller, as opposed to the buyer.
Independent Bookstore Day Gets Closer: With California/Indie Bookstore Day a little over three months away, bookstores can now place orders for unique items that publishers are making available: from a limited edition of signed and numbered Chris Ware (Pantheon) to a limited run color broadside for Stephen King’s upcoming novel (Simon & Schuster).
Three Arrested in College Store Embezzlement Scheme: Earlier this week three women were arrested for allegedly embezzling $280,000 from the campus bookstore at University of Arkansas Community College in Hope.
