(no subject)

[bluecastle]

So if you've been hanging around my LJ for a while now (and I think most of you have) you might remember that a couple years ago my friend lost her bookstore/cafe in the heart of Uni town through a confluence of bad business decisions and recalcitrant landlords. That another independent (used) bookstore had failed was hardly a unique event, but it was the unofficial central meeting place in Uni town. And there arose a hue and cry and lots of people tried lots of things, but it was still "be out by the end of the month."

Over the intervening two or so years, two businesses (well, three if you count the catering wing of the operation) have been re-organized and merged into one, and after a short stint in a temporary location, last Saturday my friends bookstore re-opened in its new location just one block from its former location. Ribbon cutting with the Mayor, day long open house, etc...

I didn't get there until last night, but it was SO WONDERFUL to walk back in those doors, and be greeted by coffee and books and music and friends. :)))

One of my other friends (Director CeeCee's husband) was performing last night with two of his friends, for a night of local singer/songwriter music. So I went down after work, had a lovely wander in the books -- things are ALL topsy turvy at the moment, so you'll get a cookbook (The Birdwatcher's Cookbook, really???), next to a bible, next to feminist literature, next to a Little Golden Book. I actually really love that. And I found a couple of Heyer novels in the Sci Fi section and they had to come home with me.

Then my cosplay pal arrived and we got coffee and coffee cake and grabbed a table to watch the performances. Cue a few tears from the first guy performing about being back "home."

And how nice it was to sit tucked up watching a local guy, perform songs live that he'd written about local places .... and then bring his pre-teen daughter up to perform an acapella number with him.

In the break between the first and second performers, cosplay pal had to leave, but Director CeeCee arrived.

And we got these:





Special grand re-opening commemorative mugs -- which come with our "memberships" that help support the bookstore in various ways and give us things like special discounts and free access to the store's wifi. Mine's the one on the right in the foreground.

And it's hard to see ... maybe a close-up will help:



The mugs are handmade by a local potter who does the mugs for the store's cafe (the one up there with the W on it). But the special re-opening mugs ... have a phoenix emerging from the pages of a book ... with a W for the store's name above.

I picked up my friend's business card off the counter last night while I was waiting for my coffee -- keeping weekly scrapbooks requires lots of ephemera! -- and I think the last line on her card sums up what we were all feeling last night ...

"... where community lives."

Luck and long life little bookstore. We've missed you so much!

Comments

[dremiel.livejournal.com]

WOW! I love the mugs and all the emotion and support and gratitude they represent. Sounds like it was a great evening. YAY for indie bookstores persevering. And double yay! for adopting the Heyer.

[beesandbrews.livejournal.com]

Neat mugs! That's great for your friend, and your town. There aren't enough local bookstores any more.