What’s In Store For You on Independent Bookstore Day

Before we get going on your “what’s in store” – don’t forget tonight’s book club chat either live at the store or via Zoom, and the author, Robert Gwaltney, will be joining us. The book is The Cicada Tree and it’s a lovely read!

Meanwhile, in between book signings and book clubs and events on the square (oh my), we independent bookstore adventure guides have been busy readying up our best Indie Bookstore Day ever! Okay, so it’s only our third since we’ve opened, and maybe the bar isn’t super high yet, but nevertheless, we’re pulling out all the stops to bring you a fabulous day:

It’s our version of book speed dating! From Gregory Erich Phillips at 10 a.m. to the Cheese Biscuit Queen (Mary Greene) at 3 p.m., there’ll be famed local and not-so-local authors speaking every 15 minutes on the stage across the street on Hutchinson Square! The full schedule is HERE – join us for the full day or select your favorites…In between, musician Mike Kaltofen will entertain us AND we’ll be awarding door prize gifts – tickets available in the store.

The new Independent Bookstore Day commemorative totes have arrived! They’re just $10 each OR spend $75 or more to get one FREE!

AND…0ur “blind date w/ a book” gives you a wrapped book FREE w/any purchase – they’ll be displayed outside the front door for you to select from.

Our Online Bookshop is getting in on the fun too!!! FREE shipping on all books at our online Bookshop all weekend long https://bookshop.org/shop/mainstreetreads

Area eateries are celebrating with us too!

Coastal Coffee: Featured inside the store AND at Coastal Coffee up the way (108 E 3rd N St, Summerville) the amazing bean blenders have created a SPECIAL BLEND just for Indie Bookstore Day – THE HEMINGWAY in honor of legendary wordsmith Ernest Hemingway. We’ll be serving it in the store all morning and you can grab the beans (and lots of other treats) at Coastal – readers and writers alike will want to stock up on this one…

Eva’s on Main: You’ve seen us ordering in their blueberry pancakes (a bonafide food group) and their Thursday chicken pot pie that feeds us Thursday AND Friday – they’re HUGE – but just for Indie Bookstore Day our pals at Eva’s are paying homage to local legendary author Pat Conroy with this SOUTH OF BROAD special featuring a plate of serious comfort food:

Frosty Beard: Ask them about their literary special – maybe a Great Gatsby or a Dune sci-fi sandwich? They haven’t told us yet, but personally I’m hoping it’s that chicken philly we’ve been gorging on all last week…They’re right next door so it’s hard not to run over and place another order. HINT: If you’re just snacking, the pretzel bites are out of this world too…

Wine & Tapas: And rounding out our alphabetical must-tries, chef Chris at Wine & Tapas is offering up THE RAINMAKER in honor of southern author John Grisham. A mouth-watering blend of prosciutto, caprese and focaccia, we suggest pairing this with a lovely cabernet or merlot to wind up your Independent Bookstore Day!

AND HOW ‘BOUT A LITTLE MAGIC?! Summerville’s own Harold Jordan, working on a documentary about Summerville, will be on hand during our fair on the square and if you ask him nicely, he may perform a close-up magic trick or two…

To learn more about Harold, visit his site HERE – Hint: Check out the videos!

Thanks to all these wonderful people and places for their help in making our Independent Bookstore Day a true community celebration of great books and awesome readers – See you on Main Street!