With Wordsmiths Gone, Little Shop Looks To Fill The Void
Decatur Metro | March 22, 2009 | 10:20 amKnown as THE children’s bookstore within Decatur’s city limits and beyond, Little Shop of Stories has long been the go-to spot for parents when kids outgrow their most well-worn books or you find yourself in need of a great gift for a child. But with the recent closing of adult-focused Wordsmiths Books, Little Shop now sees its opening into a broader market.
As far back as I can remember, Little Shop has had a smaller, smart, adult section amidst the rows of candy-colored book spines and undersized chairs. But Dave Shallenberger says that in the coming months, that smaller, over-shadowed section will take on a new prominence.
“Growing our adult section is something we have wanted to do for a long, long time, but was put on hold when Wordsmiths came in. We’ve added a good number of adult titles already this month and more will be gradually coming in. Some kind of permanent signage will be going up in our window next month indicating that we have books for adults as well. We’ve started talking to publishers about working with them to bring in authors of adult books.”
And while the adult section may expand, Dave reassures us that the store will remain dedicated to its first love, children’s books. “We want to retain our identity as being a great kid’s bookstore, but would love to be known for also being a real community bookstore.”
In a city where children are at the center of so many activities and conversations, creating a “community bookstore” with a strong emphasis on children’s books sounds right on target.