Barnes & Noble will take over trade book sales at independent store University Book Store in Seattle, KUOW reports. University Book Store told the outlet that it will still handle textbook sales and that Boon Boona Coffee will still run the cafe. “The University Book Store approached us to take over the trade bookstore to support the team and community moving forwards. The store will be a B&N but continue to have the University Book Store signage and honor many of their existing partnerships,” B&N VP, stores Amy Fitzgerald said in a statement.
Bookstores
The Strand Will Take Over Last Shakespeare & Co. Location
The Strand will take over Shakespeare & Co.’s last remaining location at 2020 Broadway between 69th and 70th as of June 1. In March, Shakespeare & Co. closed its two other stores on West 105th Street and Broadway and at 939 Lexington Avenue, citing rising costs and rent, but claiming that the Lincoln Square location remained “open and thriving.” Shakespeare and Co. booksellers and baristas will remain employed by The Strand. Nancy Bass Wyden, owner of The Strand, said, “Shakespeare & Co. has been an invaluable and treasured resource on the West Side since the 1980s and in 2018 opened […]
Half Price Books Fights Texas Bookstore Censorship Bill
Half Price Books spoke out recently in opposition to a new bill, Texas, HB 1375, which would allow people to sue bookstores for “damages arising from the distribution, transmission, or display of harmful material to a minor.” Half Price Books owner Kathy Doyle Thomas criticized the bill, saying it’s vague, and unrealistic to expect booksellers to read and assess every single book in their stores. She told NBC DFW, “How do we know in all of these books that we have in all of the stores across the state — we don’t know what’s inappropriate. [They] could be inappropriate in Corpus […]
Bookshop.org Sales Are Growing Again, Says eBook Offering Is Running Ahead of Projections
Bookshop.org founder Andy Hunter is the latest interviewee on the Open Book with David Steinberger podcast. Hunter reports that their recent initiative to add ebook sales to the retail site is, “Already performing three times what we expected when we launched—about 5% of our sales now, and I thought it would take a year for us to get to that point.” On overall sales through the site, Hunter says they are growing significantly: “This year we’re looking to do about $70 million, maybe $75 million.” That would be significantly ahead of sales of $44 million in 2024, which showed modest […]
Bookselling: New Owners For Watermark Books & Cafe
Watermark Books & Cafe in Wichita, Kansas, has been sold to new owners after 30 years. Erin and Ryan Potter bought the store from longtime owner Sarah Bagby. The new owners said their goals are “to ensure a smooth transition,” “listening and learning to see how we can best support the staff,” and continuing the store’s legacy. The store was listed for $247,000, not including inventory of approximately $250,000. Erin Potter told the Wichita Eagle, “We’re going to lean on the staff a lot to continue to support the store in the day-to-day, but one of our goals is to […]
McNally Jackson Will Host Biannual Book Festival
McNally Jackson announced that it is launching a book festival based at its Seaport location, with events held twice a year in spring and fall. The first festival will take place this spring from May 7 through June with the theme “archives, historiography, and legacies.” Vulture writes that it will include a “series of talks, a print zine, and a phone-free closing party (involving “a secret lineup” and a musical guest).” McNally Jackson founder and owner Sarah McNally says she hopes the festival will provide “more access to high-level intellectual conversations in the city” and extend publicity for books beyond […]