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| Star Lowe (photo: Chattanooga Pulse) |
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An August 28 soft opening is scheduled for Star Line Books, a 1,300-square-foot space located at 1467 Market Street in Chattanooga, Tenn. Bookselling This Week reported that for owner Star Lowe, "the idea to open a bookshop began after she moved to the area with her family three years ago, only to discover there were no independent bookstores in the vicinity."
A graduate of Paz & Associates' "Owning a Bookstore" workshop, Loew said, "You lose your rose-colored glasses really quickly with [Donna Paz Kaufman and Mark Kaufman], and if you still want to [open a store] by the end, then you know what you're getting into.... And I still did." Lowe also attended the ABA's Winter Institute this year.
"We've got a really cool demographic around here--a lot of young families and newly retired couples tired of the suburbs who want to be in the city," she said. "I just want it to be a place for 'bookies'--that third place where like-minded folks can come together and where I can offer them as many reading experiences as I can. I want to grow here."
Lowe told the Pulse that as the city's "only locally owned new books bookstore, Star Line Books will provide Chattanoogans, as well as visitors, experiences tailored for a reading community. In addition to offering a wide selection of books across genres, we'll host author signings and book release parties, weekly story times for children, and poetry nights. Additionally, we plan to partner with local schools and literacy programs to advocate the enjoyment and importance of reading and plan to solicit large companies and organizations to procure their training materials from a locally 'woman-owned' business."