Abilene

Texas Star Trading Co. has been put up for sale by retiring owners Glenn and Carol Dromgoole. They will continue to operate the store as usual while they consider offers.

Arlington

Daydream Bookstore Cafe opened in April. A romance-focused bookstore offering a curated selection of romance titles, the store also has a cafe and hosts four book clubs.

Austin

Black Pearl Books announced that their current store closed on June 20th. They celebrated their tenure at the current location with a day of festivities including a local author signing. In their post, they assured that they were not closing for good and have events planned for fall. We’ll stay tuned to their social media platforms to await their new chapter.

Cedar Park

Paper Bark Birch Children’s Bookstore, a local, family-owned store,carrying everything from board books to YA, graphic novels, and manga, was recently named one of the Ten Best Children’s Bookstores in America by Fodor’s Travel.

Cleburne

Spice Girls Bookstore held their grand re-opening on May 30 with authors and vendors helping to celebrate the new location.

Cypress

X & O Books announced their plans to open this summer. The store, owned by a woman who is a third-generation Houstonian, will offer bookish merchandise and a drinks parlor.

Dallas

Deep Vellum was included on Condé Nast Traveler’s list of Best Independent Bookstores in America. Recognized for their continuing efforts to translate contemporary literature, the store is a hub of literary excellence.

Denton

Patchouli Joe’s Books and Indulgences closed on May 30 after attempts to secure a new location were unsuccessful.

Fort Worth

Leaves Bakery & Books announced that the store will be closing on August 15. 

Garland

Dani’s Bookshelf and More announced they are moving to a permanent location. The ribbon cutting will be held on July 3 at 6pm.

Houston

Good on Paper celebrated their Grand Reopening at their new location on June 10th and hosted a signing with author Glenton Richards.

Killeen

The Scarlet Page celebrated their ribbon-cutting grand opening in May. The black queer-owned store strives to create a space where everyone feels “seen, safe, and celebrated.”

New Braunfels

The Chapter & Co reopened in their new space in early May. They continue to focus primarily on romance and fantasy titles along with book-focused items and a cafe. They place an emphasis on supporting other small businesses with their inventory.

North Richland Hills

Tropes Bookstore held their grand opening for their bricks and mortar store in early May. A woman-owned store, they work to create an inclusive and welcoming space for their community.

Prosper

Barnes and Noble opened a new location in the Gates of Prosper shopping center. Local author Tanner Mitchell cut the ribbon and held a book signing.

San Antonio

Bluebonnet Books & Homegrown Goods opened this spring. The store hosts signings, storytime events, and provides a curated selection of handmade goods.

Ghoulish Books closed at the end of June. After a split of the bookstore and independent press companies, the bookstore will reopen in its current location under a new name. The press will also reopen after moving out of state.

Tyler

The Headless Librarian will be moving to a new space this summer. With the larger space, owner Katy Perez plans to expand book selection, add a tea bar, and host events. 

Wichita Falls

Enchanted Pages held their grand opening in late April, drawing a crowd of nearly 600. The store features a cozy reading lounge, crafting events, book clubs, and books for all types of readers.

OTHER INDUSTRY NEWS

Deep Vellum announced that they are partnering with Texas Bookfest to help launch a new imprint, Burro Libro Press. The partners will help “emerging authors with strong Texas ties take the next step into publishing.” Five finalists will be selected by the Deep Vellum editorial team by November. Additionally, Deep Vellum Publishing was named one of the recipients of the inaugural Literary Arts Fund, a new national project to bolster nonprofits that serve creative writers.

Letterpress PLAY is opening in a new, larger location early this fall.