Grosse Pointe News

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Extended stay: Pop-up book store open through JanuaryFree Access


Photos courtesy of Sarah Williams
Next Chapter Books will continue to operate at the Alger Theater through January.

When Next Chapter Books announced its holiday pop-up at the former Alger Theater, owners Sarah and Jay Williams figured they would close the temporary shop at the start of the new year.
“After the new year, we’ll also have pop-ups in nearby communities … until we find the right space,” Sarah Williams explained in December. “Right now, we feel encouraged by the response from East English Village. And we hope, being so close to Grosse Pointe, that this will be something Grosse Pointers will come to as well.”
Due to the launch’s success, the Williamses have extended their stay through the month of January, with slightly altered hours.
“Many neighbors, including many Grosse Pointers, came to support our endeavor,” Williams said. “Seeing people’s excitement over the prospect of a local bookstore, particularly one with a new and used model, has been a joy. The range of offerings and prices has caused several customers to visit repeatedly in just a month. Customers often say our curation feels like their own bookshelf, yet they walk out with a story they haven’t yet discovered.”
The Williamses credited partnerships with the Friends of the Alger and East Warren Development Corporation for helping nurture the small business.
Next Chapter Books features roughly 2,000 new and contemporary used titles, “offering both affordability and relevance through a diverse selection of contemporary titles,” Williams explained. “All the titles we’re excited about and hope other people will be as well. … Hopefully people will get lost in the stacks with titles they hadn’t even thought to come in for.”
The Williamses are committed to highlighting local authors and authors of color within their selection, which includes genres for everyone’s taste — contemporary fiction, social justice, biographies, memoirs, cookbooks, history, politics, science fiction, fantasy, poetry, young adult, middle grade and children’s books.
“We’re so encouraged by the community’s interest and support that we’re extending our stay at the Alger through January as we continue to listen, learn and explore a more permanent space,” Williams said. “This month, we will be open every Thursday, Friday and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. We know many folks still don’t know we are here, so we’re working on getting the word out.”
Next Chapter Books is temporarily located at 16451 E. Warren, Detroit. For more information, visit nextchapterbkstore.com.