James Bohnen, the director of Wisconsin’s American Players Theatre, one of the country’s largest outdoor theaters, is opening an independent bookstore in downtown Spring Green, near Madison, on May 20. Arcadia Books will be a full-service general bookstore, carrying 8,000-10,000 titles, with an emphasis on literature, drama, poetry, history, cookbooks, and children’s books.
The 2,000 square-foot space includes a café area, called the Kitchen at Arcadia Books, which will serve coffee drinks, beer, wine, snacks, and light meals. There are 7-10 part-time employees, and one full-time store manager, Jim Christensen. The store is committed to organizing regular author readings and other special events. Arcadia will hold its inaugural special event on Friday, June 10, when local writer Dean Bakopoulos will celebrate the publication of his new novel, My American Unhappiness (Houghton) with a reading and book signing.
