The indie bookstore revival continues. Sophia’s Books and Puzzles opened in Plattsburgh, N.Y., earlier this week. Yesterday Susan Murphy announced yesterday that she signed a lease for a space for Pages Bookshop to open in Detroit. And the nation’s largest independent bookstore chain, Half Price Books, is about to sign a lease for its newest location in Decatur, Ga.

Events
Lions in Winter Literary Festival at Eastern Illinois University: Starting tonight with keynote speaker Stephen Graham Jones—a finalist for a Shirley Jackson Award, a Bram Stoker Award, and a Black Quill, among others—the festival will take place through Saturday and include a children’s storyhour and a workshop with a children’s author for the first time.

Openings & Closings
Half Price Could Open Next in Decatur: The developer of Suburban Plaza has a letter of intent from the Texas retailer for a 9,000 sq. ft. bookstore.

Pages Bookshop Finds New Space: Susan Murphy announced on Facebook yesterday that she has signed a lease for a new store in Detroit. When her original lease didn’t work out, she opened a pop-up earlier this month. http://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/industry-news/bookselling/article/65291-bookselling-roundup-week-ending-january-16-2015.html

Sophia’s Opens in Plattsburgh, N.Y.: The owners of a Go Calendar concession in University Mall in Burlington, Vt., opened a bookstore and puzzle shop earlier this week.

McGill University Asked to Add More Bookstores: The Montreal-based university’s bookstore, which grossed $17 million last year, is planning to move into a larger space next year. At a Town Hall meeting earlier this week, participants suggested that the store to add smaller branches or pop-ups with tailored inventory to better serve the school.

Two Portland Stores, Better Together: Last weekend two rare bookstores, Passages Bookshop and Division Leap, in Portland, Ore., opened in a shared space. They will continue to operate separately, but can direct customers to the other’s business more easily.

Bookstore Collective in New London Likely to Close: After Monte Crist Bookshop converted into a collective last summer, http://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/industry-news/bookselling/article/63575-bank-square-expanding-monte-cristo-going-co-op.html the New London Collective, which replaced it, has run into staffing and financial trouble.

Valhalla Books in SF Closing: The 17-year-old Mission Street bookstore known for its eclectic selection of used books will close sometime next month or early in March.

Other News
Canio’s Turns 35: Although the building that houses Canio’s Books in Sag Harbor, N.Y., went on the market earlier this month for $2.9 million, the owners will stay, preferably in their current location. For now, Maryanne Calandrille and Kathryn Szoka are planning the store’s 35th anniversary and the revival of its Moby-Dick reading marathon.

Spellbound in Pittsburgh, Kans., to Move to a Larger Space: Monday was the last day for Spellbound in its old location. It will reopen next month in a new space that is double the size, where it promises: “more books, more genres, more coffee, and even fresh bagels.”

CSUDH Gets Archives from Longest-Running Black Bookstore: Historical items from the Aquarian Book Shop (1941-1994), which was known as the “Font of Black Culture,” were recently donated to California State University, Dominguez Hills. Many of the articles will be on display there from mid-February through August.

Amazon to Collect Sales Tax in Illinois: On Sunday, Amazon will begin collecting sales tax in the state, create more than 1,000 full-time jobs in Illinois, and invest more than $75 million in Illinois.

Saying “Goodbye” to Stuart Gersen: The long-time bookseller, cofounder of Longfellow Books in Portland, Maine, was remembered for his big heart and his support for writers.