A North Carolina store adds a West Coast location; a California bookseller considers closing; and a veteran Minnesota bookseller prepares to call it quits.
Stevens Books to Hold Grand Opening on April 16: The Christian, used, and new bookstore, which opened in Raleigh, N.C., 62 years ago and has a large online store, which offers free delivery worldwide, is about to celebrate its new store on the West Coast. The San Francisco location will hold day-long events on Saturday, including a puppet show, live music, and a poetry reading.
California Bookstore Potential Minimum Wage CasualtyAnn Kinner of Seabreeze Nautical Books and Charts in San Diego is the latest California bookseller to express concern over the impact of minimum wage on her store. She is worried about a June 7 vote to raise the city’s minimum wage to $11.50 next year, coupled with a bill signed by Gov. Jerry Brown to increase it across the state to $15 in 2022. Kinner has already cut business hours and reduced staff.
Christian Bookstore in Winston-Salem Turns 30: April 1 marked the pearl anniversary of Carolina Christian Supply. Co-owner Carol Sheets credits the store’s longevity to its outreach to churches with choral music, clergy robes, communion bread and cups, offering envelopes, sanctuary candles, and other items in addition to books and bibles.
A Video Poem a Day at Diesel: April is a sort of “High Holy Month” at all three California Diesel bookstores, according to Brad Johnson, co-manager of the store in Oakland. To celebrate, throughout the month friends and colleagues of Diesel read one-a-day from published poems as well as original works by a local writing program for fifth graders.
Closing Time for the Book Shelf in Winona, Minn.: After an unsuccessful Indiegogo campaign last year, which raised only $810 of the $15,000 needed, the store will close on April 15. On his Facebook page, owner Chris Livingston wrote: “It is has been a wonderful experience being your independent bookseller for the past 14 years, and I wish it were possible to continue to be.”
