For nearly a decade, America has been experiencing a ‘retail apocalypse’, the mass shuttering of thousands of brick and mortar stores, due in large part to the rise of Amazon and online shopping. Huge companies such as Sears, Toys R Us, and Forever 21 have all filed for bankruptcy. The way Americans shop is changing, with the latest trends being things like grocery delivery and Amazon’s same-day delivery.

But there’s one type of retailer that has bounced back after being hit hard, and actually experienced growth over the last ten years — independent bookstores. While chain book sellers like Borders and Waldenbooks have closed, indie bookstores are on the rise. 

According to the American Bookseller’s Association, between 2009 and 2015, more than 570 independent bookstores opened in the U.S., representing about a 35 percent increase. Indie book shops are thriving by providing community gathering spaces, hosting events, and expanding their merchandise beyond books. 

And although Downtown St Pete is home to the incredible Haslam’s Book Store, the neighborhood lacks a smaller, independent, and highly-curated bookstore. That is, until next month when Alsace Walentine opens the highly-anticipated Tombolo Books at 2153 1st Avenue South in the Grand Central District.

Walentine is a veteran in the book world. After college, she moved to Asheville, NC where she began working as a barista at Malaprop’s Bookstore/Cafe, a staple in North Carolina since it’s opening in 1982. Throughout her sixteen year tenure at Malaprop’s, Walentine climbed the ranks to eventually become manager and events coordinator.

After her wife moved to St Pete for a job in 2015, Walentine decided to follow. “In many ways, St. Pete is very similar to Asheville,” says Walentine. “But I couldn’t find a bookstore anywhere in the area similar to the one I previously worked at in North Carolina. So I’m opening one!”

Tombolo Books will be a 1,500 square foot experience-driven bookstore situated in the beautifully lush Calusa Commons, next door to Black Crow Coffee and Squeeze Juice Works.

The shop will carry around 6,000-7,000 books at a time, focusing on independent publishers, local nonfiction, popular bestseller books, and much more. Tombolo will also offer non-book items like pins, stationary, coffee mugs, pencils, and more.

“I want Tombolo Books to calm people,” says Walentine. “Whether you read before bed every night or haven’t picked up a book since college, you will be welcome here.” 

The shop will provide various types of seating, whether you’re visiting with a group or just looking for a little peace and quiet by yourself. Customers are welcome to bring in a coffee or juice (with a lid!) from the neighboring businesses to enjoy while hanging out at Tombolo Books.

As for events, Walentine plans to host book signings, author lectures, book clubs, and other community events that are still in the planning stage.

Tombolo Books has been in the works for a long time. Walentine first decided to open a bookstore in St Petersburg back in 2015. In the beginning, she established relationships by attending Chamber of Commerce and “Keep St Pete Local” events. Walentine studied local demographics and traffic patterns in order to pinpoint what neighborhood she wanted to be in. She also attended a 10-week business course at the St Pete Greenhouse, a small business resource center.

Then it was time to find a name for the bookstore. “I wanted something unique,” says Walentine. “A name people would remember.” After hundreds of ideas and hours of brain-storming, Walentine decided on ‘Tombolo Books’. The word ‘Tombolo’ (pronounced “tom-buh-loh”) is defined as “a sandbar connecting an island to the mainland,” in the same way Tombolo Books will connect readers to stories, authors, characters, and other worlds.

With a name in place, Walentine decided to start spreading the word. After attending a few markets and festivals, Tombolo Books opened a 180 square foot temporary pop-up inside the Central Arcade in Downtown St. Pete’s trendy EDGE District. Debuting right before the holidays in 2017, Walentine introduced “blind date books”, a book wrapped in brown paper with a vague description scrawled on the cover. Those ended up being a big hit and will be available at Tombolo’s new store.

For the past year, Walentine has been laser-focused on opening Tombolo Book’s permanent brick and mortar location in the Grand Central District. Even though Amazon’s domination over retail is intimidating, Waletine isn’t worried. “We will offer an emotional value that Amazon will never be able to match,” she says. “Tombolo Books is so much more than just a bookstore. We are so excited to grow a community of book lovers in St. Pete. The residents of St. Pete love to support local and I know they’ll have our back.”

Speaking of support, Walentine launched an IndieGoGo campaign earlier today to help get the bookstore’s fundraising to the finish line. Please consider contributing to this local business that has invested hundreds of thousands of dollars and sweat equity into our beautiful city. People like Alsace Walentine are what makes St Petersburg such an amazing place.

Tombolo Books plans to open this December, just in time for the holiday shopping rush. They’ll be located at 2153 1st Avenue South in the Grand Central District of Downtown St. Pete. Be sure to give them a follow on Facebook and Instagram. Also, to receive the quickest updates, sign up for their mailing list at TomboloBooks.com.