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Unlimited Books for Kids to Grow

Unlimited Books for Kids in Franklin, North Carolina, is expanding into the vacant space at the back of the store, adding 400 square feet to its current 300-square-foot location, owner Suzanne Harouff has announced.

Harouff is also the owner of downtown Franklin’s Books Unlimited. Last summer, Harouff opened Unlimited Books for Kids right next door to her general-interest bookstore.

Phoenix Books Essex to Move and Expand

In late July, Phoenix Books in Essex, Vermont, will move into a larger space around the corner from the store’s current location, owners Michael DeSanto and Renee Reiner announced this week. “We love this community, and our customers have been strong supporters of Phoenix Books,” said DeSanto.

Phoenix Books was founded in Essex in 2007; it now includes stores in Burlington, Rutland, and Chester, Vermont, plus a sister store in Woodstock. DeSanto noted that with the growth of the business, more office, shipping, receiving, and storage space has been needed at the Essex location. The larger footprint will accommodate these functions and will allow for increased inventory, expanded bargain book offerings, and the possibility of selling used books.

The new, more visible store is located among a number of locally owned businesses, said Reiner, who added that the store will also feature a play area for kids and comfortable chairs for adults. The new store will no longer have a café, but is close to several restaurants. This September, Phoenix’s 10-year anniversary will be celebrated in the new space.

Malaprop’s Turns 35

In celebration of its 35th birthday, Malaprop’s Bookstore/Café in Asheville, North Carolina, offered customers an anniversary special of 25 percent off most items in the store all day on Sunday, June 4.

“It seems like yesterday that I threw the doors open to Malaprop’s and Downtown Books & News. Time does fly by when I have fun,” said owner Emoke B’racz in a store newsletter. “Readers young, old, new, and local keep telling us to stay the course, to keep the center of this town amazing. Asheville has become as vibrant and diverse in selection as we have always aspired to be. We are a sanctuary for folks looking for a moment of respite from a chaotic world… I could not be any more proud of these stores and the staff who help you find just the book you were searching for.”

Downtown Books Launches One Summer, One Read

Manteo, North Carolina’s Downtown Books is offering free copies of Refugee by Alan Gratz (Scholastic) to the first 150 kids who sign up for the store’s new town-wide One Summer, One Read book club. Signup began June 1 for the book club, which is geared toward readers in fifth grade and up.

Last fall, Downtown Books coordinated a county-wide school visit with Gratz, who asked for the chance to return for his new middle-grade novel. Refugee, which publishes July 25, is the story of three refugee children hailing from different places and different times: A Jewish boy from Nazi Germany, a Cuban girl in 1994, and a Syrian boy escaping 2015 Aleppo.

Gratz will be at Downtown Books on July 24 to deliver copies of his novel to participants and to lead the first book club meeting; subsequent meetings will be held at locations throughout the county on July 31, August 7, and August 14. Support for the program is coming from the Bryan Cultural Series, the Manteo Rotary Club, and District Court Judge Meader Harris.

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