B&N readies a new concept location in D.C.; Canada’s oldest LGBTQ bookstore relocating; a former Cleveland bookstore could get a new lease in a one-time funeral home; and more.
Visible Voice Books to Pop Up in Cleveland: After a February announcement that Visible Voice Books, which closed in 2014, could be coming back, owner/founder Dave Ferrante confirmed plans to reopen the store in a former funeral home. In the meantime he plans to host a pop-up tent-party on July 10.
Toronto’s Oldest Bookstore Moving: Glad Day Books, the oldest bookstore in Toronto and the oldest LGBTQ bookstore in the world, is moving to a larger, accessible space with greater visibility where it will be able to add a coffee bar, alcohol, and/or board games. “For some people there’s a lot of nostalgia attached to the location, but the store was also always supposed to be pushing boundaries; being part of the queer liberation and sexual liberation movement in 2016 means being wheelchair accessible,” said Michael Erickson, lead owner of Glad Day. In conjunction with the move, the store has launched an Indiegogo campaign to raise $50,000.
B&N Proceeds with New DC-Metro Store: A previously announced 18,000 sq. ft. standalone Barnes & Noble store is moving forward at One Loudoun in Ashburn, Va. Slated to open in 2017, the bookstore is likely one of the mega-bookseller’s new concept stores.
Obituary: Capital Hill Bookseller Joe Shuman (1928-2016): Joseph S. Shuman, who died on June 6 from complication from Alzheimer’s, was best known for running Trover Shop in Southeast Washington. In 1958, he and Harvey Weinstein purchased the bookstore, which specialized in political memoirs and manifestos. The bookstore closed in 2009. A card and gift store that Shuman, and later his sons, also ran closed a few months later in 2010. Shuman was 88.
