About Bookstores

As bookstores look to turn their status as a community hub into a financially rewarding asset, many are exploring customer membership programs. Two stores that offer paid memberships share their thoughts.

Mary Jane Barnwell and her sister and brother-in-law, Diane and Joseph Brandonisio, bought The Island Bookstore on Mackinac Island, Michigan, in 1989. They have since expanded from a 300-square-foot space above a market to a 1,000-square-foot store. In 1996, they added a second, 2,000-square-foot store in Mackinaw City, on the mainland. Both locations are seasonal, and are open from May through November.

Gilman Wins "Heart & Soul" Award

Mysterious Galaxy owner Terry Gilman has been honored with the Heart & Soul Award, given by the Women in Business committee of the Manhattan Beach Chamber of Commerce. The award recognizes businesswomen who are professionally successful and give back to the community.

Thirteen indie bookstores will welcome booksellers to New York City for next month's trade show with open houses on Monday evening, May 24. The owners and staff of the participating stores are looking forward to greeting their ABA colleagues with a warm reception and some light refreshments. The Open House festivities are co-sponsored by the participating businesses, the American Booksellers Association, and BookExpo America.

Karla and Peter Nelson began their bookselling careers in the mid 1990s in Ilwaco, Washington, by selling their own book collection online. "We always planned for a storefront and the opportunity arose to be on the ground floor of a revitalization of an area that had been primarily a fishing port," said Karla Nelson. "We took a giant leap of faith and have watched this area blossom." On May 1, the Nelsons celebrate the 10th anniversary of their store, Time Enough Books, at the port of Ilwaco waterfront.

"What we are after is working with vendors that want to be real partners in selling quality products to our customers," said Northshire Bookstore owner Chris Morrow. That's why Northshire has just entered into its second consignment partnership, this one with publisher Chelsea Green.

The Skylight Books façade, a wall of windows that stretches the length of the storefront, faces a busy street in Los Angeles' Los Feliz neighborhood. To maximize this high-visibility window-space, Kerry Slattery, the store's co-owner and general manager, partners with other local businesses to create attention-grabbing displays. The variety in displays "makes for a more interesting window," she said.

Best Supporting Bookstore: Octavia Books

Octavia Books co-owner Tom Lowenburg knows that New Orleans is becoming a moviemaking destination, but that doesn't mean he was expecting the crew of The Revenge of the Bridesmaids, starring Raven-Symoné, to cast his store as a location in the upcoming ABC Family movie.

The Women's National Book Association has announced the winners of the 2010 WNBA Pannell Awards, given annually since 1983 to two bookstores that excel in contributing to their communities in ways that bring books and young people together.

This year's General Bookstore winner is The Green Toad Bookstore in Oneonta, New York. The Children's Specialty Store winner is Little Shop of Stories in Decatur, Georgia.

The Book Shop Marks 50 Years

The Book Shop, a used bookstore in Hayward, California, recently reached its 50th birthday. The store is on its third set of owners: Carl and Marilyn Baker-Madsen and Sherman and Alison Lewis bought the bookstore last summer. The store was founded by Ken and Virginia MacKenzie, and previously owned by Hank Maschal.