Around Indie Bookstores

NYC's McNally Robinson to Celebrate Name Change

On August 7, New York City's McNally Robinson Booksellers will officially change its name to McNally Jackson Books, and it will mark the event with a special party for all of its supporters. Store owner Sarah McNally, whose family owns the Canadian bookseller McNally Robinson, explained that the change was being made in part to end confusion about the NYC bookstore's independence and nationality. Additionally, the new name will commemorate the birth of McNally and husband Chris Jackson's first child this summer. And the name is also indicative of the bookstore's "increasingly conscious commitment to the local."

The August 7 party celebrating the name change, which begins at 7:00 p.m., will feature writers, including Colson Whitehead, Joseph O'Neill, Sean Wilsey, and others, who will become bookstore staff for the night: recommending books, serving food and drinks, and more. There will be live bluegrass music, complimentary bubbly, and an unveiling of the new McNally Jackson logo throughout the store.

BookStacks Unites With Bucksport Businesses to Boost Downtown

The July 4th issue of the Bangor Daily News reported that BookStacks of Bucksport, Maine, has joined forces with two other downtown businesses to promote the Main Street area as a destination, as well as bolster their own operations.

Andy Lacher, the owner of BookStacks for more than a decade, and George MacLeod, who has run MacLeod's Restaurant for more than 20 years, have partnered to offer discounts to each other's customers. "Spend 10 bucks or more at BookStacks, get a 10 percent discount when you eat at MacLeod's Restaurant and vice versa," reported the newspaper, adding, "When other downtown merchants heard about that deal, they wanted in on it and now several other Main Street businesses will offer the same type of downtown discounts."

Lacher, who heads the Downtown Bucksport Business Association, told the Bangor Daily News: "People like the idea. And they also like the idea that we're doing it."

MacLeod is also partnering with Andy Tyne, the owner of the just-launched Broadway Rickshaw business, to provide a lunchtime delivery service from the restaurant's luncheon menu via pedicab.

Powell's Announces Plans for Breaking Dawn Midnight Release Party

As BTW reported last week, independent booksellers across the country are busy making plans to mark the August 2 release of Breaking Dawn, the fourth and final installment in Stephenie Meyer's Twilight Series. On Wednesday, July 9, Portland, Oregon's Powell's Books announced its plans for Bella's Ball, celebrating the final installment in the Twilight Saga, on Friday, August 1. The store noted that, similar to Harry Potter release parties in the past, NW Couch Street would be closed for fun and games, including:

• Costume contest for the best dressed: Bella, Edward, vampire, werewolf, and Bella and Edward as bride and groom
• Twilight Trivia and Dance/Trance DJ
• Treats and refreshments from Cupcake Jones, Voodoo Doughnut, and World Cup Coffee and Tea
• Vampire films at Living Room Theaters on the night of the event
• American Red Cross Blood Mobile on site from late afternoon till early evening
• Breaking Dawn: Books on sale at midnight