New York City continues to add more bookstores, with one slated to open on the Lower East Side next year. Twice Told Tales will open in McPherson, Kans., as early as Monday, and The Booksellers in Dayton, Oh., should be ready for business later next week. Books-A-Million is moving forward with its 2nd & Charles concept stores, with one slated to open next month in Columbus, Ga. A former BAM location in Gainesville, Fl., is being converted to a 2nd & Charles, which will open in November.
Events
AJC Decatur Book Festival (Sept. 4-6): The largest independent book festival in the country takes place this weekend in Decatur, Ga., and includes a keynote with Erica Jong (Fear of Dying) in conversation with Roxane Gay.
National Book Festival (Sept. 5): The 15th annual festival, sponsored by the Library of Congress, takes place on Saturday, and, yes, there’s an app for that. http://www.loc.gov/apps/?loclr=fbloc
Openings & Closings
Bookstore to Open in Former NYC Warehouse: The Lower East Side is getting an art house cinema, Metrograph, in February, along with a bookstore, restaurant, and lounge.
New Store to Open This Weekend in McPherson, Kans: After working in bookstores for five years, Jessica Niemeyer is opening her own Twice Told Tales, a used bookstore with 10,000 books in a variety of genres, including children’s.
The Booksellers in Dayton to Open Soon: After opening The Booksellers stores in Memphis and Cincinnati, former Joseph-Beth Booksellers founder Neil Van Uum, is adding a 12,000 sq. ft. store in the coming week.
Indigo Spirit to Open in Downtown Vancouver: Indigo will open a store one-tenth the size of the now closed Chapters. In a press release Canada’s biggest bookseller said that the it is still “passionately” looking for a space for a large-format store.
Star Line Books Has Soft Opening in Downtown Chattanooga: Owner Star Lowe plans to offer books that the the big box stores don’t in the 1,300 sq. ft. general bookstore.
Gainesville, Fl., BAM to Become 2nd & Charles: The remodeled bookstore, which replaces a superstore that closed on August 22, will reopen in early November. Another 2nd & Charles will open in Columbus, Ga., early next month.
Ancestry Books Closes Temporarily: On its Facebook page the Minneapolis bookstore announced that its last day in its current space will be September 26. “[We] will be actively looking for a permanent location soon though for right now we are catching our breath,” the store wrote.
Barritt’s Books Closes One Store in Virginia Beach: Earlier this week, the bookstore closed its Strawbridge location. Its stores in Great Neck and on Independence Blvd. will remain open.
Encore Books in Lebanon, N.H., to Close: The used bookstore, which survived Hurricane Irene, hasn’t been able to withstand competition from online retailers. It will begin liquidating its inventory next week.
Other News
Guide to Kulchur Moving to Larger Digs: The Cleveland bookstore, which carries zines and small press and independent authors’ titles, is moving into an 1,800 sq. ft. space with a performance space and café. Its former storefront will become a warehouse for Cleveland Books 2 Prisoners.
Arson Suspected in Ad Infinitum Books Fire: The 16-year-old online bookseller with a warehouse in Mt. Vernon, N.Y., is still assessing damages from the fire, which the fire department labeled “suspicious.”
NYC’s Books of Wonder Turns 35: “35 Years of book selling, hear us roar!” posted the children’s specialty bookstore on its Facebook page. The store opened its doors on September 2, 1980, in a 200 sq. ft. space.
