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.  

Thank You Books - Birmingham, AL

Thank You Books, Birmingham, AL

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Oh what a night, late December back in '63 SCREECH, uh make that 2019.  Doesn't really sound right, does it?  Maybe not to most of us but for the three co-owners of Thank You Books in Birmingham, the new lyrics resonate perfectly for them.  Unknown to each other before the bookstore (sound familiar Two Friends?), they were helped to discover each other and their common interest in starting a bookstore.  And what better time to open a bookstore than December 2019, just as the Coronavirus is beginning its incubation and subsequent rampage.  But open they did, out of the gate with a bang and judging by the weekday of my visit they won't need to look back or second guess their founding of this terrific new independent bookstore.  Congratulations Thank You Books!

Thank You Books has an excellent location in a shopping area surrounded by other small businesses.  The interioir is beautiful with lots of natural light from the large front windows and lots of decorative string lights throughout the store.  Even the floor is beautiful with hand-painted stars.  The space was formerly home to a vintage clothes store so it was well-cared for, making the transition to bookstore a little easier.

This indie offers all new books and I thought the depth and breadth of their inventory was excellent.  They offer a few sidelines including a variety of greeting cards and journals and some Thank You Books swag.  But as Elizabeth told me, their primary focus is definitely the books.  Like so may other bookstores, they are holding events via Zoom and are looking forward to having live events in the future.  If you can't make it to the store, consider purchasing your books through their website where their entire inventory is available.  And keep in mind, if they don't have it they can order it for you.

On this visit, I enjoyed meeting 66.6% of the ownership.  I didn't get to meet Laura but Kristen and Elizabeth were kind enough to talk to me a bit on a VERY busy day.  Clearly to me, this is one smart group of owners who are poised for a long, successful business.  If you're in the Birmingham area and haven't visited this newbie yet, pay them a visit and enjoy a fantastic bookstore with a knowledgeable and talented staff.  Go to an indie and buy a book.  Bonsoir.

JUST FINISHED:  The Known World, Edward P. Jones.  Historical fiction that takes us to a 19th century plantation in a fictional Virginia county.  An abundance of characters of both races, some good, some bad.  This slavery tale has a twist with a Black plantation owner who owns Black slaves.  And then an even further twist with a Black female plantation owner.  This is a dense read at times, one that you should be patient with and willing to take some time. 

CURRENTLY READING:  Where The Crawdads Sing, Delia Owens.  I know, I know.  I'm late to the party. 

RECENTLY PURCHASED:  Shaking The Gates Of Hell, John Archibald.  All Things Cease to Appear, Elizabeth Brundage. 

 

Your invitation to enjoy this bookstore.

 

Abundant exterior window space. 

 

View looking into the store and to the right from the front entrance. 

An outstanding table display on the day of my visit. 

 

Wonderful display along the left wall just inside the store. 

Looking immediately to the right from the front entrance. 

 

The interior is "L" shaped so moving to the right after you enter, this is the view looking toward the back of the store. 

 

This beautiful wall of books will require hours of browsing.  Staff picks can be found throughout the store.   Look for those slips of paper randomly hanging from the shelves called "shelf talkers."

If you're writing a blog about bookstores, a variety of journals comes in handy. 

Sometimes the designs are on the ceiling and sometimes they're on the floor.  Nicely done, Thank You Books. 

 

If you've been putting off reading that classic, find these shelves and ask a bookseller for a recommendation. 

 

I love this room toward the back of the store.  Display table, reading nooks, shelves full, and covers displayed on top.  Super. 

Partial view of the children's area.  Very creative. 

Overview of the store looking back to front.

 

If you have a baby or a toddler and haven't seen these yet I think they're fantastic.  Drool proof and chew proof!  And they're washable. 

Very active virtual events schedule. 

If you're getting a gift, don't forget the card to go with it. 

I love the decorative string lights you can see throughout the store. 

With Kristen in the middle and Elizabeth on the right, two of the fine co-owners at Thank You Books.  Thanks for a great visit. 

The Bookshelf - Huntsville, AL

The Bookshelf, Huntsville, AL

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When I visit a bookstore like The Bookshelf in Huntsville, AL, I'm usually curious to know what their secret to longevity is.  Carolyn P. has been the owner for about 8 years and the store has been serving the Huntsville area for about 50 years.  This means the store has survived the economy crash in 2008 and most recently the pandemic.  When I asked bookseller Eleanor T. what their secret to survival is she answered without a trace of hesitation, "we offer good service."  As she told me, if it's not in the store they can order it.  During the pandemic, customers didn't have to enter the store to pick up their book orders.  For the indies who have succeeded for numerous years, the "good service" claim is one of the common characteristics.  Well done, Bookshelf.

This one-level store with multiple book aisles offers almost all used books with a few new ones.  It is very neatly arranged and organized making browsing very easy.  The store offers almost exclusively fiction with the exception of a few non-fiction books in the classics section.  For those customers who bring books in, they'll receive store credit.  During the time of my visit, there were many regulars coming in to take advantage of this deal.  Additionally, The Bookshelf carries a good variety of jigsaw puzzles.  These have sold especially well here during the pandemic as well as at many other indies.  They were so popular that some of the manufacturers of jigsaw puzzles couldn't keep up with the demand.

I didn't get to meet Carolyn on this visit but did meet Eleanor who was the perfect bookseller and bookstore rep to visit with.  Friendly, conversant, and knowledgeable.  She is one of the "puzzle pieces" responsible for the store's continued success.

This store is on a good run and there's no reason it can't continue.  But continual customer support and patronage is critical.  Regular customers, keep it up and bring a friend on your next visit.  A great place to browse and enjoy a half-day visit, just like me.  Go to an indie and buy a book.  Bonsoir.

JUST FINISHED:  The Overstory, Richard Powers.  This book gets lots of positive reviews but I lost interest about halfway through.  Begins as a series of short stories, each one involves the theme of a tree and how it impacted a family or a person.  Bottom line is there's more to a tree than meets the eye.  The author is definitely talented, but maybe over my head at times. 

CURRENTLY READING:  The Known World, Edward P. Jones. 

RECENTLY PURCHASED:  Mississippi Trial, 1955, Chris Crowe.  Dangerous Shadows, Dee Henderson. 

A beautiful view any book lover enjoys.  Looking into The Bookshelf from the front entrance. 

If you like mystery and adventure, go no further than inside the front door and immediately left. 

You'll also find the check-out counter immediately to the left with two solved jigsaw puzzles on the counter facing. 

Two great seats in the front of the store to sit and try out a book. 

This device in the front of the store will help you keep track of your spending.

If you know any Stephen King fans, send them here. 

One of my favorite things to see, a long wall of books. 

Many bookstores have told me that jigsaw puzzles have sold incredibly well during the pandemic.  It's no different at The Bookshelf.  They had trouble keeping them in stock. 

Only a few of the Julie Quinn books available. 

Book covers that became jigsaw puzzles.  

Partial view of the kid's area. 

These are only a few of the sale books here.  If you're on a budget, check these out. 

Overview of the store looking from the rear toward the front entrance. 

If you've never read this classic, it is a must read.  I know where you can get a copy. 

Check out the new arrivals near the front of the store and to the right after entering. 

Many readers enjoy audio books and you'll find an assortment here. 

Hey Outlander fans, pick up your next one here. 

No grocery carts here so maybe consider two baskets?!

With Eleanor, one of the fine booksellers you'll meet at The Bookshelf.  Thanks for a great visit.