The potential fragility of even the seemingly best-funded new bookstore ventures was driven home this week with news that two-year-old Granada Books in Santa Barbara needs to raise at least $50,000 to stay afloat. Granada set up a crowdsourcing campaign on GoFundMe. “This is a challenging time for the independent bookstore in the realm of online merchandising and the deep discounts of mega-chain stores,” wrote co-owner Sharon Hoshida. “What they cannot give is personal attention, a choice of several books recommended by an informed bookseller, nor the opportunity to discover an author you never knew about until you saw their book on our shelves,” Fortunately, Granada is over a third of the way toward its goal.
Events
Dahlonega Literary Festival (March 28-29): Two days, 22 author presentations, including one by keynote author Frances Mayes, and booths with 27 regional authors in Dahlonega, Ga., the Southern Gateway to the Appalachian Trail.
Openings & Closings
Used Bookstore Coming to East Side of St. Paul: In May, A Greener Read, a for-profit company that collects Books for Africa and for a nonprofit that places them in the hands of low-income students, is adding a retail location.
Rainbow Parable Reopening: After closing on December 23, this Christian bookstore in Colonial Heights, Va., is about to reopen next month thanks to former customer Wallace Markert, who purchased the store and its assets.
Hennesey + Ingalls to Close Hollywood Store: The Southern California art and design bookstore will continue to maintain its Santa Monica location.
Other News
ABA Names Finalists for Indie Choice/E.B. White Read-Aloud Awards: Booksellers at ABA member stores have until April 14 to choose this year’s adult and children’s winners along with an indie champion from the newly named list of finalists. The awards are given at BEA.
Iconic Montreal Bookstore Turns 40: Sunday marked the official anniversary of The Word, a beloved used bookstore in what had once been a Chinese laundry.
Borderlands Helps Create Children’s Library: After being rescued by loyal customers, San Francisco’s Borderlands Books is returning the favor to its neighborhood by asking customers to donate books to the soon-to-be opened Garfield Park Lending Library for kids.
Wine & Beer License for An Unlikely Story
Diary of a Wimpy Kid author Jeff Kinney will be able to serve wine and beer at his new bookstore in Plainville, Mass., which will have a soft opening at the beginning of May.
Council for Wisconsin Writers to Honor Daniel Goldin: The owner of Milwaukee’s Boswell Book Company will receive CWW’s biennial Christopher Latham Sholes Award for encouraging and supporting Wisconsin writers.
Bloomsbury Books Turns 35: The iconic Ashland, Ore., bookstore, will celebrate with a party for customers in the middle of next month.
Free Shipping at Books of Wonder: The long-time New York City children’s bookstore is hoping to boost online orders and promote its discounted shipping rates with free spring shipping for domestic orders from now through April 1.
