Category Archives: Bookstores

New Bookstore Opening at Pepper Place

Birmingham is getting a new bookstore downtown! Today, Homewood’s Little Professor bookshop announced they are opening a second location at 2807 2nd Ave. South, in Pepper Place, this year.

They said they’ve been on the lookout for “an experimental space” in which to set up a new concept for them. They plan on having a coffee bar, light cafe fare and cocktails to offer during events and throughout the day, alongside all of their books and magazines.

Sipping a cocktail while looking for a good read? Sign me up!

On August 27th, from 8am-12pm, you can get a taste of what they have planned during their first “pop up” shop. They’re hoping to tap into the crowds and community vibe of the Pepper Place Farmer’s Market as they test out their ideas and begin outfitting their space.

I’m very excited about another bookstore opening downtown. It’s going to be fun to follow along and see what the folks at Little Professor have planned. Here’s a photo tour of what their Homewood space looked like back in 2017 when they opened and you can read their full statement here about their new Pepper Place location.

little professor and pepper place

Two Documentary Films for Bookish Folks

Here are two documentary films that I’m excited about and I am guessing, if you’re reading this blog, you’ll probably be interested too.

The first film is called The Bookmakers and runs about an hour. It features all kinds of folks that are working to keep books viable in this day and age. There are interviews with type setters and old world book artists as well as digital librarians and font folks. The trailer hooks me early! I hear that The Bookmakers documentary has been delayed due to all of the “stay home” stuff going on these days. I’m excited for this one to be out – eventually. Here’s the trailer:

A co-worker mentioned The Booksellers documentary to me the other day and I just love the visuals in the trailer. It was released back on April 17th via special streaming screenings online. Which is all very cool and handy these days. You can scroll through the film’s twitter feed and find a place to watch it. It looks like it’s running about $10 to stream it. This film has to be good. There are some pretty big names from both the bookstore and book trade worlds in The Booksellers. I’m hoping to find some time this weekend to watch.

It doesn’t hurt to mix in a little screen time with reading, does it? I hope you all are tucked away, feeling well and have plenty of books surrounding you. And I hope you get a chance to see these two films too!

Thank You Books – Birmingham, AL

Thank You Books is one of Birmingham’s newest bookstores and an all around indie hot spot. This shop is a lot of fun and has so much energy for having just popped up in December 2019. I think this just shows how much care and consideration the owners are putting into their bookstore and the books they select. They’re selling new books and the care and consideration carries over into the way they deal with the shop’s visitors as well (both online and offline).

The seem to be most active on Instagram and I’ve enjoyed lurking during some of their “live” events online. Just good book people sharing the books they enjoy and doing what they can to foster a healthy book culture here in Birmingham.

I sure do miss visiting bookstores… but these photos will have to do, until the self-isolation period is over. Once it is, be sure to give them a visit, here’s some details (and I really do recommend following them on the social channels):

Thank You Books
5502 Crestwood Blvd, Unit B
Birmingham, AL 35212
205-202-3021
https://www.thankyoubookshop.com/
twitter: https://twitter.com/thankyou_bham
instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thankyou_bham/

And here are the photos taken back, in 2019, soon after the opened. It seems like years ago. Notice how the stars on the front sign are carried on throughout the store across the floor? So fun!

Big feature wall inside Thank You Books.
inside Thank You Books in Birmingham, AL

UPDATE: here are some pictures of their new kids area.

Thank You Books new children's area
View of Thank You Books new children's area
Floor cushions in Thank You Books new children's area
Big windows in Thank You Books new children's area