The for-profit, feminist bookstore Charis Books in Little Five Points has been teasing a big announcement for about a week now.  Daren Wang forwards this note from the Southern Independent Booksellers Alliance …

Charis Books & More, the for-profit feminist bookstore, and Charis Circle, the store’s nonprofit arm, Atlanta, Ga., are planning to move into a larger location within a year, the Georgia Voice reported. The new location will be called the Charis Feminist Center and may be in Decatur, “where many of Charis’ customers live.” The new center will have a coffee shop, share space with other nonprofits and offer more programming.

To make the move, Charis is putting its current store up for sale and has begun a $1 million capital campaign, whose co-chair is the same woman who “gave Linda Bryant the seed money to open Charis 37 years ago.”

“We’re excited for change and to be in a space that is more accessible to more people,” Charis Books & More co-owner Angela Gabriel told the Voice. “We’ve been discussing and dreaming about this for 10 to 15 years and finally we have the right people on board to make that happen.”

The full article in the GA Voice states that Charis hopes to open its new location to the public about a year from now.

Kimberly at Blue Elephant just wrote in with this…

A heads-up for locals still needing tickets to the Decatur Book Festival’s free keynote speech by Jonathan Franzen: seating is limited and this is a popular event, so tickets are going FAST. Blue Elephant Book Shop, Agnes Scott College, and Little Shop of Stories are all completely out of tickets. Charis Books will be out within the hour. Bound to Be Read Books reports some tickets still available, but that number will dwindle quickly.

See y’all at the Festival!

Because it’s been a bit unclear…

Blue Elephant Book Shop is finally open at 407 W. Ponce right across from Watershed. Our hours are Monday through Saturday from 9:30 to 9:00 and Sunday from 12:30 to 6:30. Please call 404-373-1565 for more information.

UPDATE: Teresa at Blue Elephant tells us that while the shop will indeed open June 1st, the “Grand Opening” will take place Saturday, June 5th.

“Low-catur”, as it was recently called in a comment, just keeps on gettin’ better!

According to an email just sent out to patrons, the Blue Elephant Book Shop is moving from the Publix plaza just north of Decatur into the old “So Rare” space across from Watershed and Farm Burger at 407 West Ponce.

Here’s the note forwarded to me by both Michael and Shannon (thanks!)

Dear One and All,

We have some big news for you from Blue Elephant Book Shop. As of June 1, we will be in a new space. The lease is signed, renovations are underway, and–although we are confident that this is a good move–fingernail-chewing has begun in earnest. Our new address is 407 W. Ponce de Leon Ave, Decatur, 30030, so we will be about 1 mile from where we are now. The space is smaller than our present space and will have a cosier look, but will still have our individual imprint and friendly, expert staff. For those with local knowledge, the landmarks are two doors west of Taqueria del Sol, two doors east of Dancing Goats, and directly across the street from Watershed.

If you have any questions, please call us at 404-728-8955 or email us at [email protected] .

Wish us luck with the daunting task ahead. Moving itself is never fun, even if the end result is.

According to a Tweet from Carl on Saturday, Indie Coffee & Books has been sold and will reopen as a cafe after April 20th.  That means coffee, but no more books.

h/t: InDecatur

The Indie website announces a “10 Day Blowout Sale” on all books thru April 19th with 20% and 40% off all books.

Known 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.

The AJC has a short Q&A with the producer of Paperback Dreams, a new documentary about the country’s independent bookstores that’s coming to Push Push Theater next Friday at 8pm.  The showing is sponsored by many Decatur and surrounding area

“Paperback Dreams,” released last month in California and already broadcast on several PBS stations, is making its way east this month. [editor’s note: It doesn’t look like its currently scheduled to air in Atlanta yet]

PushPush Theatre in Decatur will host a free screening at 8 p.m. on Nov. 21. The event is sponsored by several metro Atlanta bookstores, including A Cappella, Blue Elephant, Charis, Eagle Eye, Little Shop of Stories and Outwrite.

Read the full interview here.

Click here to view the film’s trailer.