NEW ORLEANS (press release) – On Saturday, April 30, New Orleans bookstores will team up to celebrate the annual Independent Bookstore Day (IBD) with a bookstore “passport” and giveaways. One of these bookstores, Tubby & Coo’s Mid-City Book Shop, is especially celebrating because they are finally re-opening the store to browsing after being closed since March 2020.
“We’ve really had to pivot to being mostly an online store for the past 2 years,” owner Candice Huber said. “We’re so excited to finally fully show our new location to the public!”
Tubby & Coo’s moved locations in July 2020, just a few months after the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. They are now located at 432 North Anthony Street, a mere 10 blocks from their old location on Carrollton Ave. In August 2020, just a month after moving, they suffered a pipe burst in the new building, which flooded the store. Since then, they’ve also had to contend with the Delta and Omicron variants of COVID-19 and Hurricane Ida. Throughout it all, the little nerdy store that could has persevered.
“We moved mostly online at the beginning of the pandemic, and our amazing customer base has been so supportive,” Huber said. “Being able to offer curbside pickup and virtual author events has been huge for us, and we’ve also been offering door service, serving customers as a book concierge, bringing books to the door for them to browse. We’ve been doing everything we can to keep our community safe while we fully set up our new location.”
Huber says the new location will be fully ready to go for Independent Bookstore Day on Saturday, April 30, and they are ready to celebrate with their customers and community.
As for Independent Bookstore Day, Huber says that Tubby & Coo’s will offer special giveaways, exclusive items, and a broad selection of signed books. They are also participating in a citywide bookstore crawl with six other independent bookstores: Baldwin & Co., Blue Cypress Books, Community Book Center, Frenchmen Art & Books, Garden District Book Shop, and Octavia Books. Together, they are offering the chance to win $175 in gift certificates to customers who visit all seven participating bookstores. Stores will also give away a special prize in a raffle for customers who visit at least four of the bookstores. Book lovers can pick up a “passport” at any of the participating stores on April 30 and will gain a sticker or a stamp for each shop they visit.
“I’m so excited for our customers to finally be able to come in person regularly and say hello again!” Huber said. “We’re also looking forward to rolling out some new services and programs and bringing back some of the old ones that were suspended. Hopefully folks continue to support us so we can continue slinging fabulous books!”
More information about Tubby & Coo’s, including store hours and a complete schedule of events, can be found on their website at tubbyandcoos.com. The book shop will be open from 10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. for their re-opening on Independent Bookstore Day, Saturday, April 30.
