Book People, Richmond, Va., held a grand reopening on Saturday to celebrate renovations made possible by donations from customers as well as to celebrate founder Ruth Erb, who is retiring, and new owner David Shuman, who has been manager of the store. Events on Saturday included story time and craft making for children, a literary scavenger hunt and refreshments.
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| Erb and Shuman (center r. and l.) with longtime employees Alex Huneke (l.) and Mary Lou Sheridan (r.) | |
"At first it was hard to watch my beloved shop get turned upside down during the renovations," said Erb, who founded Book People in 1980. "But I'm thrilled with the results. And I'm especially happy that David is carrying on my vision as a place where people who love books can share their passion."
Book People raised $14,000 through an Indiegogo campaign in January and received other assistance from local investors. Shuman commented: "We wanted to celebrate Richmond readers who came together and pitched in to keep this community resource alive. Their generosity ensured Book People will survive and even thrive as the anchor for Richmond's reading community."
Specializing in hard-to-find titles, Book People sells new and used books. With the renovation, it's added two new departments focusing on children's literature and science fiction and fantasy. Other work included upgrading lighting, shelving, floors and the point-of-sale system.