Around Indies

Food for Thought Celebrates 35 Years

Congratulations go to Mitch Gaslin and the other members of the Food for Thought Books Collective in Amherst, Massachusetts. The independent, not-for-profit collective project and community space is celebrating its 35^th anniversary with a “Toast & Jam” celebration this Saturday. The event will kick off at 7:00 p.m. with readings, toasts, and a community feast, and will continue with a dance party from 8:30 to midnight, featuring a DJ.

Since the mid-1970s the collective has served the historic Pioneer Valley town, which is home to Amherst College, Hampshire College, and the University of Massachusetts at Amherst. In addition to meeting the textbook needs of many of the area’s students, the collective specializes in books and periodicals on social justice and liberation and serves as a hub for radical and progressive exchange.

Bookshop Santa Cruz Marks 45^th Anniversary

Bookshop Santa Cruz in Santa Cruz, California, marked its 45^th anniversary this week. To celebrate, the store held in-store sales, hosted a birthday party, and is challenging customers to a store trivia contest about store personalities and events, with the winner receiving a $150 store gift certificate.

The store, which was founded in 1966, has been owned by the Coonerty family since 1973. Five years ago, on the store’s 40^th anniversary, management of Bookshop Santa Cruz passed from Neal Coonerty to his daughter, Casey Coonerty Protti.

Mystery Lovers Aims to Outfit a Bookmobile

Mystery Lovers Bookshop in Oakmont, Pennsylvania, is challenging customers to help its Angel Fund provide nearly 1,000 books to outfit an entire Bookmobile. The Bookmobile, which is operated by the Allegheny County Library Association, visits Head Start and pre-school programs throughout Allegheny County.

Customers can help by purchasing books from Bookmobile’s title list (the store gives 20 percent off such purchases), by making a cash or check donation, or adding an Angel Gift, in any amount, to their credit card purchases. Gifts can be made in honor of a friend and Mystery Lovers has certificates available for such purposes.

Store owners Richard Goldman and Mary Alice Gorman noted that the Bookmobile is where many kids get their first library card—or two—one to take home and one to keep at the school. Teachers can also check out storytelling books.

The Bookmobile will visit Mystery Lovers on Sunday, November 20, and will be available for tours.

Malibu Welcomes DIESEL, a Bookstore

DIESEL, a Bookstore was welcomed back to Malibu by customer and fan Gracee Arthur, who blogged about the store’s return on Malibu Beach News. The new Malibu Country Mart location was celebrated with a well-attended “Thank You” party on October 23.

The business, which is owned by John Evans and Alison Reid, also has locations in Oakland and Brentwood, California.

“The new store is stylish and cozy with John, Alison, and company there to help you find just the right book or order it for you,” Arthur wrote. “What warmed my heart was seeing so many younger people in the store with their parents.”

Changing Hands Owner Makes the Case for Shopping Indie

In her November letter to customers, Changing Hands co-owner Gayle Shanks made a strong yet eloquent case for shopping at independent bookstores this holiday season and beyond.

Here’s part of what she wrote: “What’s it worth to our communities, to our common culture, to have independent bookstores? What would it mean if online retailers became our only choice, if publishers reduced the number of titles they publish each year, if authors have Amazon publish their books? Do we want books — their publication and sale alike — in the hands of a single corporation? What will happen to authors like Justin Torres or Alice LaPlante, Miranda July or Jumpha Lahiri, if booksellers aren’t reading and recommending these extraordinary novelists to their communities?...”

And, Shanks continued, “As important as the book industry is, there’s actually more at stake than the fate of bookstores. What’s at stake is community. Your community. Our community.” (Read the letter in its entirety on the Changing Hands website.)

RiverRun Garners Community Support

The Portsmouth Patch reported that a community meeting hosted by RiverRun Bookstore owner Tom Holbrook drew more than 100 area residents a week after Holbrook announced he would let his lease expire on December 31 and permanently close the store if he could not find enough investors to keep it going.

During the forum, Holbrook asked for ideas about making RiverRun a profitable business going forward and ensuring a fresh start. Patch reported that in just six days, the store has received $55,000 in investment and $1,000 in donations from around the country, and that Holbrook was looking for an additional 12 to 15 people to donate $10,000 each in exchange for a share of the profits from the business.

A store customer, Rose Eppard, told Patch that she cared about RiverRun’s continued existence “because of all the businesses in downtown Portsmouth, this business has done more for the city and the community than anyone.”

Strand Owner Talks to Marketplace

Nancy Bass Wyden, owner of Strand Book Store, in New York City, was recently featured on American Public Media’s Marketplace, where she discussed bricks-and-mortar bookstores in the digital age.

“Business for us is doing great,” Wyden said. “In-store is up 8 percent. I really believe that people don’t want to be tethered to their devices at home, and they’ll always seek a place or shopping experience with the community of book lovers.”