Turn the page: Second Flight picks up Main Street Books
Turn the page: Second Flight picks up Main Street Books
Plus ... HOW BIG did you say Purdue’s next undergrad enrollment is going to be? Indiana abortion restrictions battle to the House. And welcome back, Imagination Station
Welcome this morning United Way of Greater Lafayette, sponsor of today’s Based in Lafayette edition, inviting you to their inaugural Run United 5K. Please join the United Way on Saturday, Aug. 27, at Subaru of Indiana Automotive for the run. Registration starts at 8 a.m., with the race to begin at 9 a.m. Listen to live music from The Jacks. Dog N’ Suds, Mary Lou Donuts and Kona Ice will also be on hand. This is a family friendly event and an outreach opportunity for United Way and many of its partner agencies. Kids and families can get pictures with Ace from the Lafayette Aviators, enjoy the bouncy house and take a ride on the Boilermaker Special. For more details or to sign up for the 5K, click on the links below.
SECOND FLIGHT BOOKS READY TO BUY MAIN STREET BOOKS
Big news Monday in the small bookstore world in Lafayette: Second Flight Books, a used book shop on Scott Street across from Columbian Park, is about to finalize the purchase of Main Street Books in downtown Lafayette.
The sale comes just shy of a year after Tamzin Malone, who started Main Street Books in 2015, died of cancer – a moment that came with waves of tributes for her steadfast belief that downtown Lafayette deserved a good bookstore. Malone got started after buying out the sci-fi stock at Robots & Rogues, a bookstore in the 500 block of Main Street, and moving it to a vacant storefront left by City News, at 426 Main St. Malone, who initially said she would be happy making just enough money to pay the rent, turned Main Street Books into a downtown hangout.
(The headline on one obit that day rightly hailed Malone’s shop and her presence: “‘Memories of a ‘badass’ who ran Main Street Books.”)
Laura and Justin Kendall opened Second Flight Books in 2016, first in the former Dell Brothers men’s clothing store at Market Square Shopping Center, with the inventory from the retiring owners of Earl Plaza Books. They moved Second Flight to 2122 Scott St. a few years later.
Laura Kendall said the deal should be done by mid-August. A farewell/welcome party is already scheduled for Aug. 12. Both shops announced the plans on their social media platforms Monday morning.
“It is true,” Ted Malone said Monday afternoon.
“It has been a difficult decision for me, but I believe it is time for me to move over and let someone take over who can devote the time needed to the store,” Malone said. “I love that store, and while I'm sure there will be some changes, but not so many that it won't be Main Street Books.”
I had this conversation Monday with Laura Kendall, after news of the sale started circulating.
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