The Book Inn - Fairhope, AL

The Book Inn, Fairhope, AL

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Unbeknownst to me, my arrival in Fairhope coincided with one of the largest events each year, an arts and crafts fair, 70+ years and counting.  The town was flooded with people from EVERYWHERE.  Multiple downtown streets blocked off and packed with vendors.  What does this have to do with The Book Inn?  It’s most likely its most profitable 3-days of sales each year.  If you can align your bookstore with an incredible event like this in your community it would be a no-brainer.  As store manager Samantha L. told me, Fairhope is an artsy community which has supported the success of two bookstores and enabled The Book Inn to enjoy a 45-year run in the same downtown location.  Well done, Fairhope.

A successful 45 years doesn’t happen by luck.  Samantha’s mother, Wanda, is the third owner in its history.  Fairhope is a tourist destination and that is an important part of the customer base.  The Book Inn has a strong core of regular customers as well including 2nd and 3rd generations of those regulars.

The store offers all used books neatly arranged in a one-level setting.  Notice in the pictures that the books are shelved laying down instead of standing up (An attempt to help ease neck pain!).  The Book Inn’s longevity is even more impressive when you consider there are few to no sidelines.  If you bring your books in you can receive store credit in return.  Although some customers will simply choose to donate their books which is always helpful for any bookstore’s overhead.  

I didn’t get to meet Wanda on this day but her daughter Samantha was terrific to meet and visit with (some days Samantha’s daughter is working giving the store three generations of booksellers).  I was especially happy to meet Samantha because she has been a regular follower of the blog for YEARS.  Thank you Samantha!

If you’ve never considered Fairhope as a tourist destination, give it some thought.  Beautiful town, on the gulf coast with lots of unique and artsy small businesses.  And a butt-kickin’ used book store.  Go to an indie and buy a book.  Bonsoir.

JUST FINISHED:  The Day The World Ended At Little Bighorn, Joseph M. Marshall III.  Story of Little Bighorn told from the viewpoint of Indians who fought there.  The author is a  Lakota descendent of people who were there and has gathered stories from others, through oral histories passed down through the generations.  The first chapter was great in telling the story of the battle at Little Bighorn.  After that, the author goes into minute detail of that history and is a bit repetitive for me.  Offers a different point of view from the usual histories.  

CURRENTLY READING:  Into The Beautiful North, Luis Alberto Urrea.  

RECENTLY PURCHASED:  The Fifth Son, Elise Wiesel.  

 

Beautiful day to visit The Book Inn.  

Enjoy the nice weather on their bench, a gumball machine, and a book.  

View looking into the store from the front entrance.  

Head over to the left side of the store and let the browsing begin.  

Looking directly to the left after entering.  

If you're on a budget find the purple cart and stock up on $2 books.  

If nothing else, you should get this for someone at every bookstore you visit.  

Locally sourced honey available right at the checkout counter.  

I love it!

One of the several book aisles.  

The perfect pun for a bookstore on the Alabama Gulf Shores.  

Notice how the books are shelved laying down instead of standing up.  No need to tilt your neck to see the titles.  

Many bookstores have creative genre names rarely seen.  Here at The Book Inn, they have "weird plots."

A creative and unique bookish piece of art with a clock.  

Overview of the front part of the store.  

If you have a Bama football fan in your family this would make the perfect gift.  

If you enjoy solars, they have a wide variety here.  

Store pricing statement.  

An overview from the back of the store looking toward the front.  

Spread the word.  

Another shelf loaded with bargains.  

With Samantha, the fine store manager at The Book Inn.  Thanks for a great visit.  

Perennial Pages Bookshoppe - Ackley, IA

Perennial Pages Bookshoppe, Ackley, IA

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For all you readers living in small-town America, take heart.  Ackley, IA is a town of approximately 1600 located in central Iowa.  Perennial Pages Bookshoppe has been open for only 4 months and is already enjoying success in rural Ackley AND the surrounding communities.  Yet, I can visit communities much larger, 20,000 - 50,000+ and find absolutely nothing.  If you want to do something like this in your smallish community, owner Lori H. would be the perfect person to guide you to the starting line.  

This very cute little bookstore is located on Main St in the heart of downtown Ackley.  You’ll find all new books and a variety of sidelines that can be found throughout the store.  Puzzles, greeting cards, children’s toys and games, stickers, various food items, and a variety of Iowa-centric items are all available here.  I thought the children’s section and the food room with various cookbooks and food were especially good.  Lori has a true enthusiasm for both of these genres.  Her inventory of children’s  books and items has made this the ideal local shop for grandparents.  If you’re a grandparent in the Ackley area, this store is a must-see. 

Perennial Pages is not only a blessing for this region but for Lori herself.  For most of her career she has been a tax preparer and continues to do that in addition to the bookstore.  The fork-in-the-road of her journey was a cancer diagnosis that helped nudge her toward bookstore ownership.  As she told me, this is her happy place.  Especially so this time of year when she is in the crunch of tax season.  After the cancer diagnosis, this bookstore ignited her therapy and recovery, and now is squarely and confidently moving forward into a bright future.  Way to go Lori!

Now it’s up to you Ackley.  Support this wonderful new business and its passionate owner.  Bring a friend, explore, tell others, and spread the word.  Ackley, IA has its own independent bookstore.  Go to an indie and buy a book.  Bonsoir.  

JUST FINISHED:  The Heart's Invisible Furies, John Boyne.  Cyril Avery was born in 1945 to a 16-year old rural Irisht Catholic girl out of wedlock.  A coming of age story for Cyril who was adopted by parents who offered everything but love and warmth.  He struggles with his sexual identity and survives homophobic violence and abuse all while searching for place and understanding.  From Dublin to Amsterdam to NYC and back to Dublin.  By the author of The Boy In The Striped Pajamas, this epic is excellent and ironically includes some very humorous conversations between characters.  Highly recommended. 

CURRENTLY READING:  The Day The World Ended At Little Bighorn, Joseph M. Marshall III.

RECENTLY PURCHASED:  The Story Orchestra I Can Play, Jessica Courtney-Tickle.  The Wager, David Grann.  Sister Lumberjack, Candace Simar. 

This unassuming storefront is hiding exciting adventures and chilling mysteries. 

Almost 100 years ago, this building was The Strand Theater.  It's very difficult to picture that when you enter the bookstore. 

If you see this sign, it's time to enter. 

View looking into the bookstore from the front entrance. 

View looking to the left from the front entrance.  A variety of sidelines can be found in this area including puzzles, candles, and greeting cards to name a few. 

Timely and relevant table display. 

Variety of locally sourced candles. 

One of the candles was named to honor the bookstore. 

Two different flavors of fudge.  Yes please. 

Many of the greeting cards are from the Iowa Paper Farm in Albia, IA. 

Looking to the left after the hallway entry.  Teen, YA, and middle reader books.  Local kids are still discovering this store. 

Looking into the adult book room, on the right. 

Variety of Christian books available. 

Find a book, take a seat, and give it a try. 

A very popular seller at the store. 

Table display of new and popular releases. 

Another popular seller at the store. 

Overview of the adult room. 

Box set collector's edition of The Hunger Games. 

I love seeing pictures of bookstores in their former lives.  This was the Strand Theater, almost 100 years ago. 

A few of the books of local and regional interest. 

Wide variety of stickers available. 

Partial view of the children's area. 

Overview of the children's area.  Bring your kids to this bookstore, they are going to love it.  Hey grandparents, this store is a must see. 

View looking from the back toward the front entrance. 

The next room down the hall after the adult book room is the food room. 

Plants, nature, and crafts all displayed here. 

Variety of fun food on this table. 

They even had samples.  Of course I did!

Variety of cooking and baking books on these shelves. 

Series of mysteries written with specific national parks as the background for the story. 

I will always encourage gift cards as an excellent way to support your local bookstore. 

Heikens Beef Sticks are a popular local item that has been difficult to find.  They're available here.

With Lori, the fine owner at Perennial Pages Bookshoppe.  Thanks for a great visit.