Around Indies

The Book Frog Opens in California

The Book Frog, a general indie bookstore, opened its doors this week in Rolling Hills Estates, California, on the Palos Verdes Peninsula.

The Book Frog blog chronicles owners Rebecca Glenn and Pete Ledesma’s journey from deciding to open their own bookstore after learning in February that the Borders where Ledesma worked was closing to this week’s opening.

HugoBooks to Open in Former Borders Express

Publishers Weekly reported that HugoBooks, which owns three stores in Massachusetts, is opening a fourth, on November 15, in a former Borders Express location in Swampscott. The new store, which will be called the Spirit of ‘76, will have 2,400 square feet of the space and will include many of the former Borders’ fixtures.

The Swampscott Borders Express was one of the top-performing Borders Expresses in the country, according to John Hugo, son of HugoBooks founder Bob Hugo.

Grass Roots Books & Music to Celebrate 40^th Anniversary

Congratulations to Grass Roots Books & Music, which will celebrate 40 years of being in business on Friday, November 11.

Jack Wolcott, who opened the store with Michael Nesson in 1971, still runs the store, now with Sandy Smith, in its original location on Second Street in Crovallis, Washington. Over the years, Grass Roots has expanded five times, and earlier this year it launched an IndieCommerce website.

To celebrate, in addition to in-store raffles, a party, and contest, Grass Roots is launching a new program: B.O.O.K. — Booksellers Of Outstanding Knowledge, whose professional booksellers are dedicated to reinvigorating reading, and keeping books relevant and fun.

Inkwood Books Marks 20th Birthday

In Tampa, Florida, on Tuesday, Inkwood Books began a 20th anniversary celebration, which will culminate on America Unchained! Day, the Saturday before Thanksgiving, as reported by Shelf Awareness. The American Independent Business Alliance-sponsored initiative reminds shoppers “that as they’re doing their holiday spending to try and keep the money in their own community,” Inkwood co-owner Carla Jimenez told SA.

To counter a decrease in foot traffic this year, Inkwood is providing books for more off-site events. “We’ve done twice as many of these events in the last two months as we typically do in a two-month period,” Jimenez said. “These kinds of things, what I call the back-door sales, help to keep the front door open.” (See a related story about Inkwood Books in today’s issue.)

Pegasus Books in Solidarity With the 99%

As Occupy Oakland called for a general strike on Wednesday, November 2, Pegasus Books owner Amy Thomas called on customers, via e-mail, the store website, and in-store signage, “to demonstrate that we can act in solidarity with each other against the economic injustice of the 1%. On November 2nd, and beyond, please shop at locally owned businesses and keep our money working for our community.”

Thomas told BTW that her aim was “to get the word out that supporting a local business is a great way to be a part of the Occupy movement, and that local businesses are a part of the 99%. Local businesses are the local job creators, and we’re part of the economic solution.”

St. Mark’s Wins Rent Concessions

The New York Times reported that New York’s St. Mark’s Bookshop has won rent concessions from its landlord, the Cooper Union, although not as much as the $5,000-a-month reduction the store had wanted. At a meeting in the office of Manhattan Borough President Scott M. Stringer, the college agreed to reduce the store’s rent for one year to about $17,500 a month from about $20,000, and to forgive $7,000 in debt. The school will also provide student help with revising the store’s business plan, according to the Times.

Jamshed Bharucha, the president of Cooper Union, which has its own financial problems, said, “The relief that we’re providing is so that the bookstore can come up with a viable and sustainable business plan not dependent on further subsidies.”

St. Mark’s co-owner Bob Contant said, “We have to make people realize it’s not over as such just because we’re out of the woods for now.”