Amazon goes Ivy League; book clubs get a store of their own; a Long Island favorite returns with a new look; and more.
Westfield Book Club Bookstore to Open in June: The 1,000 sq. ft. former cell phone store in Westfield, Mass., is the site of Cynde Acanto’s second store. She opened the Book Club Bookstore in Broad Brook, Ct., two years ago. For the new bookstore Acanto is partnering with Jessica Martin. The two met through a Stephen King book club at the Connecticut location.
BookHampton Reopens: When the East Hampton Village, N.Y., bookstore opens today after a gut renovation by new owner Carolyn Brody, it will no longer have a second floor. Brody wanted a more open feel, with bookcases going all the way to the ceiling. Roxanne Coady, owner of R.J. Julia Booksellers in Madison, Ct., is working with Brody.
Amazon@Penn Now Open: The first Amazon pickup location at an Ivy League school opened on the ground floor of 1920 Commons at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia as part of an effort to bring new life to the complex. Amazon@Penn includes lounge areas with study space, power outlets and tables with computer screens.
Blue Frog Bookstore for Sale: Rob Vedro and his sister-in-law, Penny, have decided to sell the Howell, Mich., bookstore, or close it if they don’t get an offer right away. “This is both a family decision and a monetary one. With the addition of a baby in our family, it has really stretched us thin,” the owners wrote on Facebook. The store’s last event will be held on June 4 with Randy Pearson (Tell Me a Story).
