Around Indies

Reston’s Celebrates 35 Years

Earlier this month, Reston’s Used Book Shop in Reston, Virginia celebrated its 35th anniversary. The event featured live music, refreshments, and a 35 percent discount.

Reston’s was founded in 1978 by Sue Schram and Sue Wensell, who sold the store to current owners Bud and Susan Burwell in 1999. Besides an extensive inventory of used books, Reston’s sells new books by local authors.

Among the store’s other unique features are a “literary living room environment” and the RUBS Book Club, which encourages members to bring whatever they are reading to share and discuss with the group. The Burwells also host occasional music events and a literary roundtable course, sponsored by a lifelong learning institute and George Mason University.

Five Stone Bookstore Opens Five Stone Kids

On Monday, Five Stone Bookstore, which opened earlier this year in Lebanon, Pennsylvania, launched Five Stone Kids, a children’s bookstore and indoor play area. The space, located in the Lebanon Valley Mall, was formerly Club Kid, an indoor playground known for hosting parties.

Five Stone was able to obtain much of Club Kid’s equipment and has added a selection of children’s books and other features such a new train table set, work bench, and a doll nursery. Five Stone Kids charges a small admission fee for individuals and has several birthday party packages.

Hill Now Owner of That Bookstore in Blytheville

It’s official: Grant Hill is now the owner of Arkansas’ That Bookstore in Blytheville (TBIB), the Associated Press reported. Hill, who is 22, moved from Little Rock to purchase the iconic store from Mary Gay Shipley, who founded TBIB in 1976. Hill’s plans include expanding the store’s reach and making TBIB a “destination” spot within the community.

“I’m really lucky to step into a store in this position,” Hill told the AP. “It may not be in its golden era, but it’s certainly not crashing to the ground. It’s a nationally known store — and Mary Gay was willing to stay on and help me out.”