Around Indies

Flavorwire Features 25 More Indie Bookstores

After receiving an overwhelming response to its recent list of 45 indie bookstores across the country deserving support during the holiday shopping season, Flavorwire has published an addendum, including 25 more great indies.

Among the new additions are Odyssey Bookshop in South Hadley, Massachusetts; R.J. Julia Booksellers in Madison, Connecticut; Changing Hands Bookstore in Tempe, Arizona; and Brazos Bookstore in Houston, Texas.

“This is one of those cases where the longer the list, the better,” Flavorwire said.

Black Stone Bookstore Opens in Ypsilanti

The Black Stone Bookstore & Cultural Center opened this month in Ypsilanti, Michigan. It is the only bookstore in the area to specialize in African American books and culture, owner Carlos Franklin told MLive. Franklin has plans to host poetry slams, book signings, and other events to support local authors.

“We want to create a community,” he said. “Our whole goal was to come together and be a positive example for our community. You can go in there and meet people with powerful minds.”

Chapter Two to Open in Dallas

Specialty retailer Brian Bolke will open Chapter Two this Friday in Dallas, Texas. The 200-square-foot store bookstore will stock big statement books from publishing houses Assouline, Rizzoli, and Taschen, and will focus on interior design, architecture, fashion, and cooking.

The bookstore will be connected to an organic café and apparel store that Bolke opened last year. “Highland Park Village has really upped the ante on making a beautiful place to shop in Dallas,” Bolke told Dallas News. “A chic little bookstore just adds to the mix. Sure, you can go to Amazon or Barnes & Noble, but this is really about the experience.”

Bolke owns two other specialty shops in Dallas.

Students Rally in Support of Bookshelf Stores

Bookshelf Stores, which has two locations in the Tahoe Sierra region of California, is facing the possible closure of its Truckee store because of an increase in its rent and a drop-off in foot traffic, following a recent move.

When the community learned that the last bookstore in Truckee is in danger of closing, they came together to try to save it. Local high school students have created a campaign, including a fundraising page on the online crowdfunding site GoFundMe.com, and have scheduled a rally at the Bookshelf on November 23. The bookstore is encouraging customers to support the youth-led efforts by making a donation, patronizing the store, or simply spreading the word in person or via social media. If the store does not raise enough funds, it will be forced to close by February 28.