New stores could be opening soon in Novato, Calif., and Dayton, Oh., as two indie chains get ready to expand. Charleston is about to get its first mobile indie, the Itinerate Literate, while Babbit’s Books in Normal, Ill., reopened under new ownership.
Openings & Closings
Copperfield’s Books Eyes Downtown Novato for Next Store: The California indie chain with seven North Bay stores is looking to add one more and is currently in the midst of negotiations for a 6,505 sq. ft. space.
Booksellers in Dayton Set for September Opening: The Booksellers, owned by former Joseph-Beth founder Neil Van Uum, will add a third store, which will include a drive-through window and a children’s section up front.
The Itinerate Literate Mobile Bookstore to Go on the Road in Charleston: Julia Turner and Christen Thompson are doing pop-up events as they get ready to move into more permanent digs, an Airstream trailer, which will operate in the upper peninsula.
Latham’s Book Barn in Albany Closing: Forced out by rising rent, the 24-year-old used bookstore will close on July 18.
Stillwater, Minn., Antiquarian Bookstore to Close: After 33 years as owner of St. Croix Antiquarian Booksellers, Gary Goodman wants to spend more time with his family and will sell the building that houses the store before setting a closing date.
Other News
ABA Urges Mayors to Include Indies in Discussions on Minimum Wage: In a letter to the U.S. Conference of Mayors, ABA CEO Oren Teicher wrote, “when cities raise the minimum wage without including small business owners in important policy discussions, they risk harming the people they are seeking to help, by forcing independent businesses, which work on very small margins, to cut benefits or staff hours—or worse, to go out of business.”
ABA Kobo Contract Extended for One More Year: When the ABA signed a three-year contract with Kobo in 2012, www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/industry-news/bookselling/article/53750-aba-to-replace-google-with-kobo.html it included a one-year automatic renewal, which is now in effect.
New Chapter for Babbit’s Bookstore: Although the 25-year-old bookstore had originally planned to close, Seth Wheeler purchased the Uptown Normal, Ill., bookstore and reopened it. The main change he envisions is bringing the store into the digital age.
Berkeley’s Revolution Books to Move August 1: The 27-year-old bookstore has just over a week left of its Indiegogo campaign to raise $20,000 to move and renovate the new space, which is within the same building complex where it’s currently located, Telegraph Channing Mall.
Auburn, Wash., Bookstore to Go Nonprofit: Two-year-old Finally Found Books is looking to transition to a nonprofit model by forming the Washington Literary Organization, a 501(c)(3), to raise $250,00 to buy the store and create an operating reserve.
