This week was marked by good news for indies. Adding up the modest increases in membership that the American Booksellers Association has experienced each of the past five years, the New York Times showed that since 2009 the number of independent bookstores in the U.S. has grown by a hefty 27%. Other good news included the re-opening of Bonnie Slotnik Cookbook’s in New York City’s East Village, the opening of Rabbit & Dragonfly in Lancaster, Pa., and the upcoming opening of Worlds of Wonder, a sci fi/fantasy bookstore and tavern in Charlotte, N.C.
Events
Bayou Soul Writers and Reader’s Conference on Saturday: In tribute to Maya Angelou, this year’s day-long festival to be held at the Courtyard Marriott Downtown Convention center is called “Living the Dream.”
Openings & Closings
Bonnie Slotnik Now Open in New NYC Space: The 15-year-old cookbook store re-opened earlier this week at its new home on East Second Street http://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/industry-news/cooking/article/64905-bonnie-slotnick-cookbooks-to-move.html.
Rabbit & Dragonfly Opens in Lancaster: Inspired by the Inklings, a literary group in the 1930s that included J.R.R. Tolkien and C.S. Lewis, six local artists and musicians opened a bookstore/coffee shop/community center late last week.
Sci Fi Bookstore/Tavern Coming to Charlotte: Less than one week remains for Worlds of Wonder’s $45,000 Kickstarter campaign https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/regis-o-wow/science-fiction-fantasy-bookstore-and-bar-worlds-o to help fund the launch of “a geek’s dream hangout” in North Carolina.
Half Price to Open in Sacramento: The country’s largest independent bookstore chain will open its first store in the Sacramento region in June.
Bruce’s Browser to Close: The 11-year-old Athol, Mass., bookstore has begun selling off its inventory in advance of a spring closing. Owner Diane Lincoln will hold on to the store space, which is part of a commercial block, most of which she owns.
Other News
Bluebird Adds Cafe and Events Space: The Hutchinson, Kans., bookstore has been brewing up an expansion to be completed in late spring.
Former Borders Becomes Omaha’s First Digital Hub: This fall the former bookstore site will become home to the city’s first digital library to be headed by Rebecca Stavik.
Flyleaf Bookseller’s Novel an April Indie Next Pick: Chapel Hill, N.C., bookseller Jeremy Hawkins landed on the Indie Next List for his debut novel, The Last Days of Video (March 10, Soft Skull Press).
Independent Bookstores in Houston Are Doing Well: Brazos Bookstore, Blue Willow Bookshop, and Murder By The Book are among the many bookstores that are thriving in Texas’s most populous city.
Assessing the Health of Independent Bookstores: The number of independents has risen 27% in the U.S. since 2009 in contrast to Britain and Ireland, where they have decreased 25%, and France, which has seen a more modest 5% increase.
