Around Indies

Bunch of Grapes Bookstore to Move

Bunch of Grapes Bookstore in Martha’s Vineyard, Massachusetts, will be moving into a new space, just across the street from the store’s current location. The new space is 3,300 square feet on one floor. Bunch of Grapes occupies two floors in its current location, and it has been a struggle to attract customers to the second floor, owner Dawn Braasch told the Martha’s Vineyard Times. The move is slated to take place in mid-June.

“I am so excited,” said Braasch. “I think it will be a really good space for us. I’m excited about putting tables and chairs out on that little patio and throwing the doors wide open.”

Rizzoli Opens Shop at Saks Fifth Avenue

On Friday, April 6, Rizzoli New York opened a new retail space at Saks Fifth Avenue in New York City. The bookshop is one of seven new vendors occupying the ninth floor of Saks, Rizzoli announced on its website. The selection of books in the store has been curated to appeal to the interests of Saks Fifth Avenue’s customers and includes fashion, design, entertaining, interiors, special travel destinations and, of course, New York.

Author events featuring well-known designers and decorators will be held at the store later in the spring.

DIESEL Celebrates National Poetry Month

In honor of National Poetry Month, DIESEL, A Bookstore, which has several locations in California, is featuring one poetry video per day for each day in April. The series is underway on the store’s website.

BookHampton Opens Fourth Location

On Saturday, April 7, BookHampton opened a new store in Mattituck, New York. BookHampton’s other stores are also on Long Island, in Southampton, Sag Harbor, and East Hampton.

“We have a team of booksellers that know the value of personal interaction, and understand how important personal contact with our customers is,” co-owner Charline Spektor told North Fork Patch. “We’re able to expand because of that team, and we’re committed to bringing independent bookstores into a community of readers.”

Brewster Bookstore Celebrates 30 Years

Brewster Bookstore in Brewster, Massachusetts, is celebrating its 30^th birthday today with a 20 percent discount and refreshments for customers. The store is managed by Jane Mackenzie and sister-in-law Jean Mackenzie, who have worked at the store for all 30 years, along with Valerie Arroyo, a 10-year veteran.

“I suspect the reason we’re still here is the care we take in selecting books,” Jean Mackenzie told Harwich Oracle. “[The store’s founder] Nancy was passionate about that. And there is a growing buy local movement so people are more aware about supporting their local bookstore. We have some of the most loyal customers. And you can support the local bookstore even if you have an e-reader.”

Book Stall’s Emotionally Charged Win

Winning the PW Bookseller of the Year Award for 2012 has been “quite an overwhelming and emotionally-charged experience,” said Roberta Rubin of The Book Stall at Chestnut Court.

“The outpouring of letters, calls, notes, flowers, and e-mails from so many aspects of the book industry” was unexpected, she said. “I am so touched by the authors who have written to me who were in the store in the past 30 years, and from publishers whom I have worked with all these years, and from family, friends, and customers who want to express their congratulations and approval!”

The PW honor reflects the hard work of the entire Book Stall staff of 22 people, said Rubin. She will be accepting the PW Bookseller of the Year Award at this year’s BookExpo America.

Learned Owl for Sale

Nearly three decades after she purchased Hudson, Ohio’s Learned Owl Book Shop, Liz Murphy is putting the store up for sale. “I have come to the realization that, while part of me would like to continue selling books until I’m 90, the rapidly changing industry, the phenomenal growth of social media, the fact that I’m no longer supposed to be lifting boxes, and my fear that (Harry Potter author) J.K. Rowling will write another book that needs a party, drive me in my search for a qualified buyer who will carry on the store’s mission,” Murphy said in an e-mail to customers this week.

The 64-year-old stressed, however, that The Learned Owl is not closing, but transitioning, and that she is eager to hear from potential buyers who would keep the 2,300-square-foot store going, as reported by the Cleveland.com.

Anderson’s Owner Visits Radio Show

Show host Peter Sagal, Emily Ecton, and Becky Anderson.

At the invitation of Emily Ecton, the show’s associate producer, Becky Anderson, co-owner of Anderson’s Bookshops in Naperville, Illinois, recently attended a taping of “Wait, Wait Don’t Tell Me,” NPR’s weekly hour-long quiz show that asks listeners to figure out what’s real news and what’s made up.

In addition to producing and writing for the show, Ecton is the author of four middle grade novels.  Her newest, just released from Chronicle, is Project Jackalope, which Anderson said, “is a great adventure/thriller for kids with lots of humor!”