The Indie Bob Spot: Georgia

Friday, May 1, 2015

Eagle Eye Book Shop - Decatur, GA

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I don't think I could've had a better welcome than the one I received when I entered the Eagle Eye Book Shop. Don't get me wrong, every bookstore I visit always receives me warmly. But who wouldn't enjoy a friendly brown dog, tail wagging, ambling my way the minute I walked in? If every bookstore had a

This dog is irresistible. I took more pictures of Gretel than anything else at this bookstore!

friendly dog like Gretel to welcome them, it would be fantastic. And to all those indies who have cats, none of them have ever welcomed me or seeked me out like Gretel. All this happened before I even got to the books or met the humans, the Robinson Family, Doug, Diane, and their son Charles, the super folks who own this wonderful indie.

This bookstore will be turning 12 years old about May 2 (which also happens to be Independent Bookstore Day. Indie Bob commands you to visit an indie that day and buy a book). The Atlanta area store has a great location in a strip mall near the intersection of DeKalb Rd. and Clairmont Rd. This intersection has been a high traffic and commerce area for well over a century, dating back to the Civil War. Emery University and the CDC are nearby which is advantageous for business here. The store offers both new and used books, a good variety of sidelines, and also does a reasonably good business with online orders. They host frequent author events, both in-store and off-site. In Doug's words, they are a "full-service bookstore," and I certainly agree. He also mentioned that they try to think of the store as a community center, something many other indies can identify with. Book clubs who gather in a comfortable back room can probably feel that community center vibe.

Owners Doug and Diane, and their son Charles, as well as one of the booksellers, Phillip, were all fantastic to talk to. They took a lot of their time to visit with me about the store and show me around. I'm always so appreciative of the time that people take to visit with me about their bookstores. Any customer who visits Eagle Eye Books will have a great bookstore experience and won't go wrong talking with any of these people.

But if all the humans at Eagle Eye Books are busy when you visit, don't worry. You can hang out with Gretel. What could be better than a friendly dog in a store full of books? It sounds like an absolute dream, but I got to live it for a couple of hours. You can too when you visit this great indie. Go to an indie and buy a book. Bonsoir.

JUST FINISHED: Flora & Ulysses, Kate DiCamillo. If you're not familiar with this author, check her stuff out. This is a middle reader book, as are many of her others but that doesn't mean adults can't read them. This is a great book for your younger middle reader. I thoroughly enjoyed it. Story of a 10 year old girl and and a squirrel who has super powers. Lots of great characters. I loved this book.

CURRENTLY READING: Cartwheel, Jennifer Dubois.

RECENTLY PURCHASED: Atlanta Is Ours: The Plot To Capture Sherman, Richard H. Sams. Historical fiction.

You can start browsing books before you even go in the store.

View from the front entrance looking to the back of the store. Gretel is trying to lead me to the books like any good bookseller!

Some of the sidelines, looking toward the right from the entrance.

Lots of Game Of Thrones stuff!

Doug shows me a great room in the back. Book clubs can meet here.

View from the rear of the store looking toward the front.

A portion of the children's section.

Need a t-shirt? These are just a few of the ones available.

This is where authors do their signings.

Some aisles with various sidelines available.

There is a great selection of greeting cards here and these are just a few of them.

One of the long book aisles.

Books from floor to ceiling means lots of inventory.

Take advantage of the book buy-back program.

UPS delivers a sizable shipment of books to add to the inventory, a great sign.

The fine owners at the Eagle Eye Book Shop, L-R, Diane, Doug, & Charles. Thanks for a great visit.

Wednesday, April 29, 2015

A Cappella Books - Atlanta, GA

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As I travel across the country to bookstores I'm always stumbling over little obscure bits of trivia and coincidences. Today was one of those days at A Cappella Books in Atlanta. Earlier in the day I was at The Alabama Booksmith near Birmingham, AL and met Jake R., the fine owner there. Then in Atlanta, in the afternoon and some 140 miles away, I met his son Frank R., the fine owner at A Cappella Books. This has been the father-son bookstore tour day. Frank told me though that this ownership lineage will most likely stop with him because his wife probably wouldn't let one of the daughters continue the business. Of course, bookstore lovers everywhere could only hope genetics would suggest otherwise!

Frank was just as pleasant and great to talk to as his dad. I don't know how much he's learned from him but he seems just as knowledgeable about the business. Like his dad, Frank has been in the business for 25 years and even though they're in the same profession, they've never worked together. I was encouraged to hear Frank share with me that the business is doing reasonably well and that things are trending upward for independent bookstores in general.

This is a small, corner lot bookstore in a largely residential area, the best location this store has had in its 25 year existence. You can get new, used, out-of-print, and vintage books here. They are very selective about the used books they will take but if they do, you'll receive cash or will be able to trade for used books already in the store. They're working on expanding into a room next door for most of their vintage books and will also use this room for author events. They also have a great back patio that can be used for book parties, among other things. Unlike many other indies, there are no sidelines here so the books are the thing.

Even though this place is small it packs a punch. It really feels like there are a lot of books here in a small space. And on the day of my visit there was a steady stream of business. A good nucleus of locals, some tourists, and on-line orders all contribute to the success at A Cappella Books. The parking is free and on the street but you'll be able to park fairly close.

If Georgia is the Peach State, I think I just found a "peach" of a bookstore. I know, I know, that's totally corny. It has to be "corny," I'm from Iowa (stop it Indie Bob you're nauseating the readers!). But I digress. Atlanta is a great destination, and now you have a great bookstore to visit when you go there. Go to an indie and buy a book. Bonsoir.

JUST FINISHED: A Prayer For Owen Meany, John Irving. I can see why this is many people's favorite book. Epic and inspirational. Tale of two friends from childhood through adulthood in the Viet Nam years. One of whom has a sense of destiny. Impossible to describe this book in a couple of sentences. Highly recommended.

CURRENTLY READING: Flora & Ulysses, Kate DiCamillo. Needed something different after Owen Meany, this is it. A middle-grade reader.

RECENTLY PURCHASED: A Stranger In My Own Country, Hans Fallada. Get In Trouble, Kelly Link (you never know when you'll bump into an author in these places! A gift from Han Vance. Thanks Han). GIFTED: A Cozy Infinity, Tony Paris. The story of A Cappella Books. The Pinch, Steve Stern. An ARC. Thanks Frank.