Scott Abel, co-owner of Solid State Books in Washington, D.C., reported that he and co-owner Jake Clumsky-Whitlock "remain set on a course of action that prioritizes our own health and the health of our staff." The store is carrying out all sales over the phone and by e-mail, and allowing curbside pick-up. On Saturdays the store does a sidewalk pop-out that highlights things that "need a touch," like greeting cards, children's books and staff picks.
Staffing is kept at a very safe level to allow for social distancing, and surfaces are being sanitized regularly. The store has been able to remain closed to browsing for this long, Abel continued, because of tremendous support from customers as well as understanding from the store's landlords. That conversation is ongoing, and Abel noted that pretty soon the store will have to start allowing people inside again, but he and the team are only now starting to plan what that will look like.
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| Solid State's sidewalk pop-up | |
For the past six months or so, the store has been operating on a one-in, one-out model when it comes to buying, but the Solid State team has also been holding onto a lot of stock from the year that they feel has been overlooked. Abel explained that they're hoping to see publishers start boosting some of those titles that "fell through the cracks" as the holiday shopping season nears. Abel added that he's also been "reading and rereading" everything that the ABA has been sending out about fourth-quarter preparation. The upcoming shopping season "will be one for the planners."
When asked how this summer compared to past summers, Abel pointed out that this was only the store's second summer. Sales have been down, and it "was a downer" to scrap the store's second anniversary plans. But in order to make sure that the staff stayed safe, Abel and Clumsky-Whitlock knew that they would have to endure "pretty big losses, no book clubs, no events and no fun things." On the long term level, though, they're hoping to see a good next few years and their five-year plan is "mostly intact."
Earlier in the summer, Solid State Books began to appear on lists of Black-owned bookstores to support that circulated following the murder of George Floyd and subsequent protests. Even before that, in fact, the store was listed by the NAACP as a Covid-altered business. Abel noted that since those lists started circulating, the store has gotten some larger events, which is perhaps "some overdue recognition from the publishing side." He also expressed gratitude to the store's neighbors and to some "list-builders," including the National Book Foundation and Oprah. "We have felt the love, so our thanks go to many people."
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In Waco, Tex., Fabled Bookshop & Cafe reopened in May with limited hours. Co-owners Alison Frenzel and Kimberly Batson are looking to increase hours in October, along with adding take-away food at the cafe. When Fabled reopened, explained Frenzel, the store was offering only drinks, beer, wine and limited pastries through the cafe, when normally there is a full dine-in menu.
The Fabled Bookshop team has added floor stickers for social distancing, reminders to wear masks, hand sanitizer stations throughout the shop and removed some of the cafe seating to allow for extra space. Fortunately, Frenzel continued, almost all of the store's customers have complied with the state's mask order. If anyone refuses to wear one, the staff reminds them that Fabled also offers curbside service and shipping anywhere.
Since the pandemic began, Frenzel and the team have been "bolder" about quantities when it comes to ordering new books due to frequent shipping delays. Looking ahead to the holidays, they have been proactively planning for replenishment issues by over-buying some merchandise and bestsellers.
On the subject of the protests that began in late May and early June, Frenzel said there were several peaceful protests in Waco, and the store put a "Be the Bridge" display in the windows that featured antiracist titles and books about racial reconciliation. --Alex Mutter