INDIE BOOKSTORES ON THE RISE
Indie bookstores growing in popularity with community events
Couples mingled on a recent Saturday night, sipping wine and sharing stories about relationships. The venue was not a trendy Downtown bar, but a suburban bookstore. And there was no charge for the wine and cheese.
The center of attention at Riverstone Books in McCandless was Brooke Barker and her husband, Boaz Frankel, promoting “Let’s Be Weird Together — a book about love.” The heavily illustrated book is quirky and witty, with people and animals whimsically drawn by Ms. Barker.
The couple, who met in Portland, Ore., and married in 2017, now live in Shadyside with their dog, Kip.
They chatted with more than 30 in the audience, which included Rick Sebak, Pittsburgh’s nationally known writer and documentary producer who is a fan of Mr. Frankel’s podcasts.
Books were sold and signed, and Ms. Barker created a customized drawing for each buyer.
Ms. Barker’s earlier book, “Sad Animal Facts,” has an Instagram account with 400,000 followers, including Ashton Waterman and her daughters, Madi, 15, and Violet, 7, who drove four hours from South Hanover, Pa., to meet the author and her husband.
Barbara Jeremiah, of Hampton, opened Riverstone because she thought the North Hills needed an independent bookstore. She wanted her store to be a part of a community of book lovers; a brick-and-mortar store that hosted lots of events.
And, as another part of building community, Ms. Jeremiah always makes room on the shelves for books written by local authors, including those who have self-published their work.
Since the store opened in October 2017, “it’s going well,” said Ms. Jeremiah, who retired as an Alcoa executive in 2009. “Sales have been up each year.”
Indie bookstores on the rise
Riverstone Books seems to be the right thing at the right time. Small independent bookstores are making a strong comeback, according to a 2019 report from the American Booksellers Association, a nonprofit trade organization. There was a 49% increase in the number of so-called “indie” bookstores from 2009 to 2018, the report said, increasing from 1,651 to 2,470.
Meanwhile, the national chain Borders, which sold books and music, went out of business in 2011. In recent years the largest American bookstore chain, Barnes & Noble, closed a number of stores in an ongoing battle to remain economically viable.
Still, the biggest threat to indie
booksellers is Amazon, which has prices that small local stores can’t top. So indies, including Riverstone, also sell a wide array of gift items including hand-made soap, candles, literacythemed socks and tote bags.
But Amazon can’t compete with indies when it comes to events, said Robin Carroll, events coordinator at Riverstone. There were 13 events at the store in the first two weeks of February, including a recent sold-out presentation by a ballerina from Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre.
Large crowds come to Riverstore to hear authors such as former Steelers lineman Tunch Ilkin and New York Times best selling author W. Bruce Cameron, who wrote “A Dog’s Purpose” and other dog stories, including two books made into movies.
Most events are free, but VIP events for authors like Mr. Cameron have a fee.
A free Valentine’s Day event earlier this month featured jazz singer Jessica Lee and guitarist Mark Strickland.
The biggest Riverstone event attracted 400 who wanted to meet Melissa Hartwig Urban, co-founder of the Whole30 diet program. This event was moved offsite to the Masonic Center in Ross.
Dogs attended Mr. Cameron’s appearance last November, and dogs are again welcome at Riverstone on April 4 at 4 p.m. for Victoria Schade, one of the trainers for Animal Planet’s Puppy Bowl program. She’s promoting her new novel, “Who Rescued Who.” With her will be Tori Mistick, of Point Breeze, who writes the Wear Wag Repeat blog for “dog moms.”
The schedule of events and updates on books can be found at Riverstone’s website (www.riverstonebookstore.com) and on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
Some other similar independently owned bookstores include:
• Penguin Bookshop, in business in Sewickley since 1929. Details, call 412-7413838.
• Completely Booked opened in September 2019 at 201 Blue Spruce Way, Murrysville, 724-575-7520.
• The Tiny Bookstore at 1130 Perrysville Highway, Ross; open limited days and hours, 412-585-2651.
• Mystery Lovers Bookshop in Oakmont, 412-8284877.
• A independent children’s bookstore, Spark Books, is on Brilliant Avenue in Aspinwall, 412781-1987.