Around Indies

Carmichael’s Bookstore Featured

Carmichael’s Bookstore, Louisville, Kentucky’s oldest independent bookstore, was recently featured by Style Blueprint. The article, serving as both a profile and tribute, provides a timeline of the store’s evolution and credits owners Carol Besse and Michael Boggs for creating a Louisville mainstay.

“Here are all the reasons why Carmichael’s is successful,” wrote columnist Heidi Potter: “Personal touches, dedicated employees, customer service and commitment to our community.”

Square Books Hosts Visiting Bookseller

Bill Cusumano of Ann Arbor’s Nicola’s Books is working at Square Books in Oxford, Mississippi, as a visiting bookseller for two weeks. On its website, Square Books invited customers to pick Cusumano’s brain, deeming him “a truly voracious reader and knowledgeable bookseller.”

Cusumano told Shelf Awareness that his busman’s holiday was more than a year in the making. “When we’re all attending trade shows and Winter Institute, we learn so much from each other. This is also a great way to learn,” he said.

Odyssey Celebrates Jane Yolen

Earlier this month, the Odyssey Bookshop in South Hadley, Massachusetts, hosted an event to celebrate Jane Yolen’s 50 years in publishing. Yolen is most known for her children’s classics, How Do Dinosaurs Say Goodnight?, The Devil’s Arithmetic, and Owl Moon.

Artist Barry Moser, illustrators Jane Dyer and Ruth Sanderson, editor Patricia Lee Gauch, and Yolen’s daughter, Heidi Stemple, were in attendance to say a few words and share stories about working with Yolen. Cupcakes and tea were served while fans mingled.

“I am honored to organize an event that celebrates such a wonderful woman’s achievements, said Hannah Moushabeck, Odyssey’s children’s department director. “Jane not only inspires her readers but also offers guidance and support to writers, educators, illustrators, and independent booksellers!”

Newly Merged Bookstores Hold Grand Opening

Early this year, Anna and Peter Quinn, owners of the Writers’ Workshoppe in Port Townsend, Washington, purchased Imprint Books from David and Judy Hartman, who ran the store for 30 years. Last weekend, the new store, Writers’ Workshoppe Imprint Books, held its grand opening celebration, and hosted local authors who spoke about the important role of small bookstores in the community.

The Writers’ Workshoppe closed its location and took two weeks to renovate the new space and move the books around the block. Quinn put a callout to the community for support and was overwhelmed by the response.

“I’ve never lived in any place where community support of a business was this strong,” Quinn told Peninsula Daily News. “It makes me very hopeful we will survive.”

Giovanni’s Room Plans for Future

Ed Hermance, longtime owner of Philadelphia’s Giovanni’s Room, the oldest, continuously operating LGBT bookstore in the country, recently indicated that he has found potential buyers for the bookstore. Hermance announced last fall that he planned to retire and sell the store, after 37 years of ownership.

The oldest of the group that hopes to take over is 31 years old.

“It’s really, very encouraging to think that maybe these 20-somethings and 31-year-olds can actually make a go of this store,” Hermance told CBS Philly. “The community feels ownership in it and I hope it continues.”

Booksy Galore Opens in Pound Ridge

Susan Williamson recently opened Booksy Galore in Pound Ridge, New York. Williamson, who has experience working on Wall Street, as well as in television and film, decided to take a year off from pursuing her Ph.D. in political science and began selling her and her friends’ political science books online. This quickly led to the decision of opening a store of her own.

The community has been supportive of Williamson’s efforts, many of whom are donating books or paying more than the selling price. Others have been volunteering at the store.

“There’s a big difference between people just dropping off books to get rid of them and people saying it’s important to have a community space for artists and writers and to just hang out and talk about books,” Williamson told the Daily Voice.