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Billing itself as the "ultimate nonbook book retailer," NonBookPeople is opening today in Austin, Tex. "The idea is simple," said founder Steve Bercu, who headed BookPeople for many years before retiring in 2018. "We're going to offer every sideline ever offered by a bookstore." This includes a range of services and products based in large part, he continued, on research in the Shelf Awareness archives. "Something's gotta stick when it hits the wall."
Bercu--who said he had gotten bored with retirement--noted that "everyone's used to bookstores that sell arts and craftsy gifts, cards, stationery and the like--and especially socks, god yes, socks--but customers have shown they like an even broader range of things with their books. We aim to fulfill that need."
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| Bercu shows off the merchandise. | |
As a result, NonBookPeople will include a hair salon, a barber shop, a travel agency and luggage shop, an art gallery with art supplies, a combination beer bar/wine bar/package store, a café and restaurant, an electronics section, a knitting and weaving center, a drugstore, a post office branch, a kitchen and cooking demo spot, a yoga studio and a car wash. "Most of it's good to go, although we're still putting finishing touches on the car wash."
Unfortunately, because of space limitations the only book that is currently offered for sale is a self-published guide to the store. --John Mutter