After more than a decade, South Congress Books finds a new home on Kerbey Lane.
A small storefront housing thousands of vintage and used books on South Congress Avenue represented the realization of Sheri Tornatore’s dream to open a bookstore. That is, until the new property owner priced her out of the renowned shopping street.
The same landlords owned the building for the first 10 years of operation. When an Austin developer bought the property a year ago, the store had a year left on its contract with the same rent. However, once the contract expired, an increase in rent left Tornatore no choice but to move. “Being a bookstore, we certainly could not do that,” Tornatore says. “We were willing to compromise to a degree, but that was outrageous.
The store’s new location faces the original Kerbey Lane restaurant, one of the first places Tornatore visited upon moving to Austin in 1985. “This is a really different atmosphere,” Tornatore says. “South Congress has changed so much that it doesn’t feel like old Austin, certainly not where we were.”
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Brittney Dias reimagines children’s books - New York Amsterdam NewsAuthor Brittney Dias penned her “Ava & Mae” series for Black youngsters who rarely see themselves in the children’s genre outside of picture books about the Civil Rights Movement.
Read more »
NJ professor creates a music album for the history booksThis biology professor-turned-musician called on his school community to create songs for the history books! The album is called Once Upon Deep Time.
Read more »
9 Feel-Good Books That Celebrate Non-Romantic LovePartners aren’t the only objects worthy of our affection.
Read more »