Around Indies

The Avid Reader Expands

The Avid Reader in Davis, California, has opened a second location in a 2,400-square-foot space that is two doors down from the original store. The expansion became necessary because Avid Reader gained many new customers due to the closings of several area bookstores, including Borders stores. Compared to last year, business has been up 80 percent and, said owner Alzada Knickerbocker, and the bookstore was “bursting at the seams.”

The new location, Avid Reader Active, will feature several sections, including Travel, Cookbook, Gardening, Nature, Sports, Health, Games, and Children’s Nonfiction.

The additional space has also allowed the store to expand on sidelines. It has tripled its card and calender selection and is adding games and puzzles.

Creekside Books and Creekside Coffee Become One

After seven years of operating side by side, Creekside Books and Creekside Coffee in Skaneateles, New York, have come together in one space, bearing a new name: Creekside Books & Coffee.

The combined business held an open house last Saturday, where they served champagne and wedding cake to celebrate the new union.

“We at Creekside embrace change,” said owner and founder Erika Davis. “Creekside is a successful business and we believe uniting our product selection and café will further enhance the special sense of place for our community and visitors. We have signed a new eight-year lease, for the coffeehouse space, with the landlords at 35 Fennell Street, and we plan to be here for many years to come.”

Creekside Books & Coffee carries bestsellers, children’s, middle reader, YA, and a selection of nonfiction titles and bargain books. The store continues to carry cards and stationery, some local products, and the café offers light breakfasts and lunch selections, appetizers, baked goods, specialty coffee drinks, wine and beer.

Cash Mob Calls on Capitola Book Café

Last week, Capitola Book Café in Capitola, California, was patronized by a cash mob, whose participants were committed to spending at least $20. The timing was good for the 30-year-old bookstore, which in May launched Survive & Thrive, a fund-raising campaign with a goal of raising $285,000 by the end of July.

Wendy Mayer-Lochtefeld, one of bookstore’s four co-owners, told the San Jose Mercury News that the cash mob brought customers into the store that she hadn’t seen in a while, and they were purchasing “piles of books.”