Congratulations to Haslam's Book Store, St. Petersburg, Fla., which celebrated its 80th birthday yesterday, with several speakers discussing their experiences with the store and the Haslam family as well as the store's contribution to the community--accompanied by complimentary cake.
Noting that the 30,000-square-foot new and used bookstore has undergone only one expansion since moving 50 years ago, co-owner Ray Hinst told Creative Loafing Tampa, "We just keep doing what we're doing. People like continuity… We've always wanted to provide a place where someone who likes books can come and find something for them--regardless of taste, age and your economic status. There is truly something for everybody, and that's something we'd like to continue for another 80 years."
Asked about the place of printed books in the modern world, he added, "This is the media we have used to communicate our history, our morals, our ethics, our philosophy, our lessons, our science and our technology for five centuries. That's a big deal. There's something about the way the media works. You can carry it with you. You can read it in low light, and it doesn't run out of batteries."
Haslam's was founded by John and Mary Haslam, who were succeeded by their son, Charles, and his wife, Elizabeth. (Charles, aka the Bookman, was an ABA president, and he and Elizabeth were regular teachers at ABA Bookseller Schools.) The store is now owned by Hinst and his wife, Suzanne--Charles and Elizabeth's daughter--and the fourth generation of the family are involved, too.
