Around Indies

Printer-friendly versionPrinter-friendly version

Great American Indies Highlighted

Last week, Flavorwire published a share-friendly list of 45 Great American Indie Bookstores to Support This Holiday Season. Included on the list is Nashville’s Parnassus Books, owned by author Ann Patchett and Karen Hayes; D.C.’s Politics & Prose, known for hosting many touring authors; New Orleans’ Maple Street Books, singled out for the way it champions local authors; and Minneapolis’ Magers & Quinn Booksellers, praised for stocking, used, new, and rare books, as well as “any other kind of book you’d need to get through the city’s cold winter.”

Harborwalk Returns to Georgetown

Before a September fire in Georgetown, South Carolina, destroyed Harborwalk Books and several other businesses, Michele and Dolphin Overton were talking to owner Ann Carlson about purchasing the 38-year-old independent bookstore when she retired.

Though the fire destroyed the bookstore beyond repair, the Overtons purchased the business and are rebuilding under Carlson’s guidance, Shelf Awareness reported. The couple moved the business to a 1,500-square-foot space across the street from its original location and opened on October 10 with nothing to sell but newspapers. Since then, the store has received donations from publishers to fill its shelves, while the bookstore is run by many members of the Overton family.

The community has been a huge help, too, said Michele Overton, adding that customers are showing their support for the store by purchasing many books at a time.

Nicola’s Wins Gladwell Appearance

Malcolm Gladwell, who is currently promoting his latest book, David and Goliath: Underdogs, Misfits, and the Art of Battling Giants, held a contest on his website to choose the last stop of his tour at an indie bookstore. Interested stores were tasked with campaigning the potential author visit, and the store that gained the most customer votes would be rewarded.

On Wednesday, Ann Arbor’s Nicola’s Books was declared the winner, reported Mlive.com. The store posted the news on its Facebook page, and plans to post more details as they become available.

Nicola’s worked with neighboring indie Literati Bookstore to bring Gladwell to Ann Arbor.

DIESEL Gets Mobbed

Last Sunday, Malibu’s DIESEL, A Bookstore, was visited by a cash mob, which quickly filled the store with energy and conversation, reported LA Observed.  The event was organized by the local grassroots group Preserve Malibu, which asked customers spend at least $20 at the store in a two-hour timeframe.

The Book House Turns to Community

The Book House, previously of St. Louis, Missouri, is looking to the community to help fund the store’s new location in Maplewood, just outside of the city, reported Galleycat. In May, owner Michelle Barron was forced to relocate as the storefront was being demolished by the building’s owner. She has since found a new home for the store in the downtown community of Maplewood, among many other local businesses. Barron has created a Kickstarter page with the hopes of raising $10,000 to remodel The Book House’s new location.

The Kickstarter page reads: “We have weathered the slings and arrows of an ever-changing business in a tough economy, adapted and changed but never lost sight of the soul and heart of books and bookselling and the community we serve.”