Four new bookstores celebrated Small Business Saturday/Indies First in a special way: by holding grand opening celebrations over weekend.
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| Da Book Joint owners Verlean Singletary (r.) and her daughter, Courtney Woods. | |
In Chicago, Ill., Sunday marked the grand opening of Pen and Paper: A Joint Creative, which was formed by two Black women-owned businesses, Da Book Joint and Stoviink Creatives, both former tenants of the Boxville Market. As Block Club Chicago described it, "The shop will combine Da Book Joint's selection of books by Black writers featuring Black characters with Stoviink's home and wellness goods like candles, lotions, perfumes and more."
The opening celebration had the theme "Black Christmas" (black attire was requested) and included a ribbon-cutting ceremony, and festivities featuring a set by DJ Tre Holiday, poetry, raffles, snacks, and more.
Megan "Storie" Warren-Turner, Stoviink's co-owner, said that Pen and Paper aims to be "a space where there's records, smell-goods, aromatherapy, [things that give] you an opportunity to escape from what's on the other side of those doors. Any time you come in there, it's just a whole vibe--with Black culture, community and creativity."
In Pen and Paper, much of the stock will be displayed together. "We're making sure the community understands it's all in line," said Stoviink co-owner Mary "Tovi Khali" Turner. "You'll see books splayed everywhere--not just in one section--with sprays, soaps and colognes all mingled and intertwined, with art in between everything.... It's all creative, and all meant to make sure all of your senses are heightened when you're here."
The owners of Da Book Joint are Verlean Singletary and her daughter, Courtney Woods. Block Club Chicago noted that Da Book Joint "will expand its inventory and continue hosting book signings, book clubs, a 'Books and Brunch' series and kid-focused events from the shop."
Pen and Paper has plans to open a café, add another book club, and launch an open mic series. As Turner put it, "There is no limit to the kind of programming we're going to bring into this space--art, literacy, wellness, cultural moments, a straight up barbecue for the community. That is really where we are. That's what we love about [the space]."
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| Viola Lanier | |
In a similar vein, in Marietta, Ga., Dr. Viola Lanier, "a Morehouse School of Medicine graduate earning a Master of Science in Biomedical Research and a Ph.D. in Biomedical Sciences," has founded A Better Today Books & Boutique, which offers books, scented candles, essential oils, and a variety of wellness products. Lanier told the Atlanta Daily World that she is "one of the first African American women" in Marietta to own a bookstore.
"I wanted to encourage other people to have more moments where they're just sitting, being quiet, reading and taking in information," she continued. "So those things kind of inspired me to say, 'You know what, I want to create a bookstore that has an environment that encourages those moments of reading in a comfortable setting.' "
The grand opening on Saturday, featuring a green carpet to emphasize the store's "serene and whimsical environment," included giveaways, music, prizes, and more.
The store stocks classic novels, biographies, top fiction titles, and more, according to Einnews. Lanier commented: "I curate our collection of books. You can find brand-new titles and classic bestsellers, but I also introduce our readers to authors they may not be familiar with. We also feature a host of local authors." A Better Today has a children's reading room and snack and beverage area, too.
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Clintonville Books, Columbus, Ohio, which sells new, used, and rare books, opened on Black Friday. The store has 2,200 square feet of space and stocks some 15,000 books. Owner Grant Sabatier told Columbus Underground that he was inspired by bookstores in New York City, where he lived until moving with his family to Columbus four years ago. The stores include the Strand, Mast Books, and Left Bank Books. Sabatier is also the author of Financial Freedom, the upcoming Inner Entrepreneur (Avery, March 2025), creator of Millennial Money, and co-founder of MMG Media Group.
Because the store carries used titles as well as new, "we can carry deeper cuts for a lot of our favorite authors," Sabatier told MyFox28Columbus. "We like to focus on cool collectible books, you know, books on gardening and horticulture and terrariums and cooking and hobbies," including Sabatier's own current favorite about "how to knit your own Norwegian sweater."
The bookstore aims to serve as a cultural hub, hosting events such as folk music concerts, jazz shows, poetry readings, and author appearances.
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| Michelle Raasch at her new store. | |
Epilogue Books, Menomonee Falls, Wis., opened on Saturday. Owned by Michelle Raasch, the store is offering new and used books and is happy to be part of the downtown community, which had a range of events scheduled by local businesses to celebrate Small Business Saturday. Epilogue is stocking "everything that a bibliophile could want."
On Facebook, Epilogue Books posted a wonderful series of photos of the store taking shape during the fall.