Black Garnet Books will open in its own space on University Avenue West in St. Paul, after operating for a year as a pop-up in Merci Tattoo. Owner Dionne Sims will begin renovations in February, and plans to open in summer 2022. The city’s only Black-owned bookstore, it will stock “adult and young adult contemporary literature written by Black and racially diverse authors.”
Bookstores
Politics & Prose Employees Move Forward With Union
Employees at Washington, D.C.’s Politics & Prose bookstore intend to unionize, DCist reports. Some workers have signed union authorization cards, but owners Bradley Graham and Lissa Muscatine will wait to recognize the union until after a vote through the National Labor Relations Board. An estimated 55 of the store’s 100 workers across three locations are eligible to join. In unionizing, the employees want “a contract that secures a living wage instead of a minimum one, as well as pay transparency and a standardized pay scale;” “to improve scheduling;” “shape health and safety policies, and ensure diversity, equity, and inclusion training.” […]
Bookselling: Hudson Valley Books for Humanity, Sherman’s Maine Coast Book Shop, And More
A new bookstore, Hudson Valley Books for Humanity, opened Friday in the historic Olive Opera House in Ossining, NY. Co-owners Amy Hall and Rob Lowenthal “are selling new and used books, hosting events, and featuring products from local artisans and craftspeople.” The Book Review in Falmouth, ME has changed owners, and will reopen in January as Sherman’s Maine Coast Book Shop. New owners Jeff Curtis and Maria Boord Curtis plan to double the size of the store, relocating it to a space a few doors down from its present location, but “retain its comfortable atmosphere, employees and offerings.” A new […]
Returns to Campus Lift BNED Sales, But Not to Pre-Pandemic Levels
Barnes & Noble Education’s second quarter earnings improved over last year, but still aren’t back to pre-pandemic levels (which were themselves on a declining trend — $772 million in 2019 and $815 million in 2018). On Tuesday morning, BNED reported results for their fiscal second quarter ending October 30, with sales of $627 million, compared to $595.5 million in last year’s quarter. Net income was $22.5 million, compared to $7.5 million last year. Retail sales increased by $32.4 million, or 5.6%, as compared to the prior year period, while comparable store sales were up 13.2 percent. General merchandise comparable sales […]
Bookselling: Word Jersey City to Move Locations, Porter Square Books Expands
Word Bookstore in Jersey City is moving to a new location off of Hamilton Park, with plans to reopen in February 2022. The new space of 1,200 square feet is less than half the size of the current space, which originally accommodated a cafe that closed two years ago. To prepare for the move, owners hope to whittle down inventory over the holidays. After two years of preparation, Porter Square Books in Cambridge, MA recently opened its second location in Boston’s Seaport District.
Bookselling: Paper Source to Open in Two B&Ns
Paper Source will launch a shop within two Barnes & Noble stores this holiday season– Hingham, MA, opening on November 19, and the Morrison shopping center in Charlotte, NC, opening on November 22. This marks the first collaboration between the brands since Elliott Management, which owns B&N, acquired Paper Source in May. Paper Source ceo Jenica Myszkowski said: “With our shared heritage in paper and a commitment to nurturing creativity, it is a natural fit to partner with Barnes & Noble to explore new retail experiences. Our customers will love being able to find their favorite Paper Source products at […]