City Books on Pittsburgh’s North Side to reopen
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City Books on Pittsburgh’s North Side is reopening Wednesday.
“It is both exhilarating and petrifying,” said Arlan Hess, owner. “I’ve been taking things slow. I did not rush to reopen June 5 (when allowed by Gov. Tom Wolf). I feel like with just two days being open a week that I am testing the water. I really do not want people to come to the store. I do, but I don’t.”
There are other ways to support her independent bookstore, she said, such as through Instagram or through bookshop.org.
Hess has spent the time in lockdown preparing the store, which looks much different now.
There are rules: Masks are required and customers may handle books but they will be sanitized before being re-shelved.
The layout of the store has been reconfigured to adhere to the restriction of six feet between customers and occupancy will be limited. Each transaction will require as little contact as possible. No cash will be accepted.
She said she will entertain trade-ins for some books and will offer store credit. The oldest used book store in the city, City Books sells mostly used but has new books from local and regional authors. Hess is always looking for poetry and literary fiction as well as writings on the civil rights movement.
Kim Rooney (高小荣), a writer in residency, will be in the bookstore on Saturdays. This program offers access to a creating space within the bookstore.
Hess has been doing curbside pickup and said she expects this next step to be smooth since most people who shop at independent bookstores and businesses are the type of individuals who care about the owners of such businesses. She purchased the store in April 2015 and moved it from the South Side to its current location in March 2016.
“I have seen the shift away from big box stores to smaller stores,” said the Mt. Lebanon resident. “I love being in a neighborhood with lots of family-owned businesses. It’s an amazing community atmosphere. I feel like there will be a massive support of local businesses.”
Hours will be noon to 5 p.m. Wednesdays and Saturdays.