The Author Shoppe, Hattiesburg, Miss., hosted a reopening celebration and ribbon-cutting last month in its new location at 709 Hardy St. The Pine Belt News reported that owners Murph and Erin Little spent three months renovating their new space. The store was previously located on Front St.
"Our main focus is the people here," said Murph Little. "We have book signings with local authors. It's by doing our open mics. It’s doing movie and DND nights. There's a lot of ways we try to get people to meet with each other and talk with each other. That's one thing we can provide that Amazon doesn’t. We don't have a bunch of catchy graphic tees, but we try to do what we can with people."
"The move comes with a fresh start and more room for readers to explore," WDAM noted, adding that the new location offers more space and fresh features for the community to enjoy, including a sunroom, a children's area, and additional amenities designed to create a welcoming atmosphere. In addition to books the Author Shoppe will offer coffee, lattes, and beer.
Murph Little said the shop is more than just a place to buy books; it's about community: "One of the great hallmarks of community is a place to share a drink, be that a beer or a latte. And the books, which are the most important thing for us, that is another community. We wanted a place for readers to feel comfortable and find books that they know and is their comfort, but also new books that we have curated."