“Grocery Stories”
Perhaps the only place more special than a good bookstore is one opened by a friend you knew in her pre-bookseller days. 
In my sordid lawyerly past, I had a favorite client in the Yucaipa Companies, in no small part because of the many late nights I spent with Linda McLoughlin Figel. In those days, I wrote the documents to buy and to finance grocery stores Linda and the Yucaipa gang acquired and ran. Fast forward more years than either of us cares to admit, and I’m writing books and Linda is selling them!
It beats meeting in the frozen food aisle, doesn’t it? I do think we ought to consider doing a book together, though, which we might title “Grocery Stories.”
Linda, being the bold person she is, decided to open a store even as indies everywhere were taking down their shelves. She’s a rockin’ businesswoman, so she is doing it right: She and her partners, Margot and Patty, created a cozy store in a readerly neighborhood, with a bright and gorgeous interior, a great children’s section, wonderful author events, and sellers who know books.
It’s called, creatively, {pages} – and is in Manhattan Beach, California.
I had the great pleasure of reading there last year – with the added pleasure of meeting and reading with the audio reader for The Four Ms. Bradwells, Karen White. I look forward to doing it again (and again, and again).
If you haven’t already got plans for tonight, {pages} is hosting Inkheart author Cornelia Funke, who is taking around her new book, Ghost Knight. Looking for a book club? Tomorrow, their “morning coffee book club” discusses Richard Ford’s Canada (read fast!). And the first Friday of each month is game night. From 6 p.m. till closing: Scrabble, Dungeons and Dragons or BYOB (that’s board, not bottle) for another game.
Really, doesn’t that sound more fun than clicking for books? – Meg
I do occasional posts highlighting independent booksellers, who are so important to helping new literary voices find their audiences; the independents–especially those in the bay area–were instrumental in helping me find mine. If you have a favorite bookstore, please email me and I’ll do my best to have it featured here.
