New bookstores are coming soon to Claremont, Calif., Ankeny, Iowa, and Philadelphia.
Openings & Closings
Mirrored Society Books Opening in Claremont, Calif.: Julian Lucas and Kathleen Graulty are opening a 600 sq. ft. bookstore focused on the arts.
Plot Twist Bookstore Coming to Ankeny, Iowa: Mary Rork-Watson plans to open the store in April.
Amalgam Comics & Coffeehouse to Open in Philly: Founder Ariell Johnson wants to create a space that is welcoming to people of color, women, and the LGBT community.
Long Beach’s Apostrophe Books to Close: The 23-year-old bookstore announced on Facebook that slow business for it and neighboring businesses for over a year is forcing it to close on February 8.
Other News
Indie Bestseller List Reporting Stores up Over 10%: In a letter in Bookselling This Week, ABA CEO Oren Teicher reported that the indie resurgence continued again in 2015 with sales in the low double digits for many stores.
Binc Accepting Applications for Higher Education Scholarship Fund: From now through February 29, the Book Industry Charitable Foundation will accept applications for 27 higher education awards totaling $109,000. The awards may be used for tuition, fees, books, supplies, and room and board.
Lake Forest Book Store to Move Four Doors Down: At the end of February the bookstore will move into slightly larger digs with a better layout.
Amazon Adds New Locations on Campus: The online retailer’s newly opened pickup location at the University of California, Berkeley campus is its first to feature an interactive Amazon device experience where students can use Kindle e-readers, Fire tablets, and Fire TV devices. It will also add a 3,558 sq. ft. pickup location at the University of Pennsylvania this spring.
Parnassus Books to Double in Size: The Nashville bookstore owned by Ann Padgett, which has come to symbolize the indie revival, will double in size in March when it takes over a neighboring space.
