InBerkeley

Book lovers rejoice!

Books, Inc. an independent bookstore chain with roots stretching back to the Gold Rush, is going to open a new store in Berkeley’s Fourth Street shopping district.

The new store, the chain’s twelfth outlet, will open in mid- October, according to a press release issued by CEO Michael Tucker, who grew up in Berkeley. It will be a general interest bookstore with a large collection of cookbooks and children’s titles as well. The store will also host author events.

Tucker credited the “right location, the right lease and the right landlord for allowing expansion in this challenging economic climate.”

It will be interesting to see if Books, Inc can be successful on a street that was not profitable for the venerable Cody’s Books, which shuttered its Fourth Street outlet in early 2008. The press release did not state where Books, Inc would open, but at 4,000 square feet it will be smaller (and with much lower rent) than Cody’s massive store. Tucker did say Books, Inc. will hire 12 new employees.

The bookstore landscape in Berkeley has changed in the past year. Black Oak Books on Shattuck closed down, removing one of the best venues for authors to speak. Mrs. Dalloway’s on College Avenue is expanding and a café will open next door, which will create a leisurely ambiance conducive to browsing. Moe’s celebrated its 50^th birthday in July.

Melissa Mytinger, the former events coordinator at Cody’s, started Berkeley Arts & Letters, which showcases premier authors in venues around town. Some of the authors coming to their fall series include Mary Karr, Sherman Alexie, Rebecca Solnit, Deepak Chopra, Diane Ackerman and Po Bronson.

The good news about Books, Inc comes on the heels of the bad news that Christopher Lee, the owner of Eccolo, will be shuttering his Fourth Street restaurant on August 22.

Frances Dinkelspiel Books, Business, General Fourth Street