New stores are opening in Key West and Clanton, Ala., while a temporary store in Bremerton, Wash., is converting to a permanent one.
Openings & Closings
Books & Books Adds Key West Store: Later this month the island will get its second bookstore. South Florida bookseller Books & Books’s newest branch will feature fiction, nonfiction, bestsellers, poetry, art and architecture titles, and magazines.
Christian Bookstore to Open in Downtown Clanton, Ala.: Sylvia Robinson is planning a late January opening for My Time Christian Bookstore. This is Robinson’s second store; eight years ago she opened a My Time store in Monroeville.
Liberty Bay Books to Turn Bremerton, Wash., Pop-up Into a Permanent Store: Response to the two-month-old temporary store has been so strong that Suzanne Droppert, owner of Liberty Bay Books in Poulsbo, will keep the bookstore open.
Berkeley’s Black Oak Books Closing at End of Month: After 33 years, the Northern California bookstore is closing its bricks-and-mortar location. Owner Gary Cornell said that he wasn’t concerned about making a profit, but with the increase in minimum wage, he would be losing money. The store will continue to sell books online.
The Oldest Bookstore in the Chattanooga Area Is Closed: At the end of December, 40-year-old Book Rack, a used bookstore in Red Bank, closed its doors. Owner Helen Aiken donated the remaining 30,000 titles to the Friends of the Chattanooga Library.
Jackson Street Books Closed after 31 Years: The used bookstore in downtown Athens, Ga., shuttered at the end of the year.
Bramble Bookstore Closing: Owner Cheryl Allen announced that after a five-year decline in sales, the Viroqua, Wisc.- bookstore will close at the end of the month.
Other News
Powell’s Expands Its Presence on Hawthorne Blvd. in Portland: Yesterday Powell’s Books announced that it will sign a lease for an additional space, which will enable it to connect Powell’s Books on Hawthorne and Powell's Books for Home and Garden with a third store. The combined retail space will be over 23,000 sq. ft.
Maple Street Bookstore to Keep Its Doors Open: Following its October announcement that it would close at year’s end, community support has enabled the Nola bookstore to remain in business.
IndieGogo Campaign for Century Books in Pasadena: This four-year-old bookstore, which is located next to Caltech, is the latest to turn to crowdfunding. https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/century-books-a-small-bookshop-needs-your-help#/story It needs a six-month rent reserve to renew its lease.
Greenlight Launches Community Lender Program for Upcoming Store: Just like it did in 2009 to open its store in the Fort Greene neighborhood of Brooklyn, Greenlight Bookstore is asking member of the community to invest in the new store it is opening in Lefferts Gardens.
Denver’s ISIS Books & Gifts Forced to Change Signage: After nonstop vandalism, Denver’s long-time metaphysical bookstore removed “ISIS” from its sign and replaced it with “Goddess.” Now it no longer appears to be connected with the terrorist group.
BookWoman Turns 40: Austin’s feminist bookstore is celebrating its ruby anniversary this year.
