Around Indies

Book Stall sale in the Works for June

Roberta Rubin, owner of The Book Stall, in Winnetka, Illinois, has signed a letter of intent to sell the store to local resident Stephanie Hochschild. The sale is expected to close June 1.

Last year, the bookstore was named Publishers Weekly’sBookstore of the Year, which prompted Rubin to start thinking about the store’s next chapter. “I thought, ‘OK, this is my exit strategy,’” Rubin told the Glencoe Sun Times.“I’m in my mid-70s and it was time. As much as I love the business, I don’t want to work every day as hard as I do.”

Rubin purchased the store in 1982, 10 years after it was started by Eleanor Johnston and Jane Schroyer on Green Bay Road. In 1987, the store moved to Elm Street and has since undergone two expansions.

McNally Jackson to Open Office Goods Store

New York City’s McNally Jackson is opening a store that will sell office goods — vintage and new objects from around the world, focused on “the life of the mind,” owner Sarah McNally told Racked NY.

Aptly called McNally Jackson Store: Goods for the Study, the business is slated to open in mid-April in a small, 400-square-foot space, around the corner from the bookstore on Mulberry Street.

Book Mouse Hosts Dr. Seussathon

Last Saturday, The Book Mouse in Ottawa, Illinois, hosted its seventh annual “Dr. Seussathon” More than 100 children and parents attended the event, which included readings from Dr. Seuss books as well as crafts.  The local Roxy Movie Theater donated a stuffed Lorax and Horton.  Green egg (no ham) cookies were prepared by the local bakery, and volunteers helped staff the event.

“This is always a great day for the store sales-wise and is a blast for the staff,” said owner Eileen Fesco. 

Annapolis Bookstore Hosts Impromptu Wedding

On Wednesday, Annapolis Bookstore in Annapolis, Maryland hosted its first wedding ceremony, the Baltimore Sun reported. The couple was originally scheduled to get married in the courthouse, but the threat of snow in Annapolis, Maryland, closed all government buildings.

Mark Hutson and Melanie Frances were regular customers of the bookstore, and it was where Hutson proposed. The bride told the Sun that the bookstore is “a magical place,” and she will look back on it “with love.”

Books & Books Joins the Meme

Books & Books owner Mitchell Kaplan does the Harlem Shake, an Internet video meme that consists of a group of people — often masked or costumed — comically dancing to “Harlem Shake” by Baauer.