Betty's Books, "a unique specialty bookstore celebrating the dynamic world of comics, graphic novels and manga for all ages," will host a grand opening and ribbon-cutting celebration October 23-24 at 10 Summit Avenue, in the Old Orchard Business District, Webster Groves, Mo.
"The mission of Betty's Books is to provide our community and the St. Louis area with a fun and welcoming space to celebrate, learn about and share graphic books," said owner Betty Bayer. "We are committed to spreading the word that graphic books are for everyone, and that the combination of art + text has the power to enrich our lives. We love these books and we strive to apply values of inclusivity, family-friendliness and freshness to all elements of serving customers."
Store manager Alex Arata added: "I've known Betty for years and used to nanny her children, so I definitely have a personal attachment to this whole endeavor--it really feels like we're all a family, as cheesy as that may sound!"
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| Manager Alex Arata (l,) and owner Betty Bayer. | |
Betty's Books features a mural by local artist Jayvn Solomon, a kids' playhouse area and a local creators feature section. She also plans to add a zine collection.
"I'm thrilled to be opening a family-friendly, inclusive bookstore in my adopted hometown," Bayer noted. "I look forward to welcoming the community into the beautiful store space and sharing these wonderful books. We will carry a vast range of graphic literature, from popular titles such as Raina Telgemeier's reboot of the Baby-Sitters Club series to horror manga by Junji Ito to trade paperbacks published by Marvel, DC, Image, etc., to all the graphic novels we can get our hands on--new and backlist."
Bayer has a master's degree in library and information science from the University of Illinois and a master's in education from St. Louis University. She has worked at the St. Louis Public Library and has classroom teaching experience. She believes she has developed an ideal background to launch her bookstore.
"Betty has long been an enthusiastic and enterprising reader of all kinds of books," said Jennifer Buehler, professor of education at St. Louis University. "From her undergraduate days as a student of art history to her graduate studies in young adult literature, Betty has spent years developing an appreciation for the intersection of art + text. Now as a bookstore owner, she brings significant book knowledge, unique expertise, and genuine passion for spreading the love of reading."