Ariozna Biltmore Arizona Governors Arts Awards Event Facebok Oage

Changing Hands is Arizona's leading independent bookstore, offer new and used books, unique gifts, toys, and more than than 300 author events every twelvemonth. In Tempe since 1974 (currently at 6428 South McClintock Drive), Changing Hands opened a 2d location in 2014 at The Newton, an innovative adaptive reuse project that re-purposed the iconic Beefiness Eaters restaurant in central Phoenix. This second location (at 300 W Camelback Route) is home to Changing Hands' own First Draft Volume Bar, one of a minor scattering "book confined" in the U.S. that serve vino, beer, and java drinks in addition to book and result offerings.

To keep up with all things Changing Hands, visit changinghands.com, like us on Facebook, or follow on Instagram @changinghands or Twitter @changinghands.

OUR BEGINNINGS: APRIL 1, 1974

Changing Easily began in 1971 every bit a fantasy in conversations. Tom Broderson, Gayle Shanks, and Bob Sommer, all volunteers at an culling school in Phoenix, found that they shared a common vision of working at a bookstore—a socially responsible, environmentally audio business that would also be a community gathering place. A few years later on their fantasy became a reality when Tom bought a modest, struggling used bookstore for $500, which included books, bookcases, and an ancient cash annals. Since that store was losing its lease, the books were packed up until a new location could be found.

Tom and Gayle opened Changing Hands on April Fool'southward Twenty-four hours, 1974, with a piddling borrowed coin and a large interest in books and community service. Bob served as a part-fourth dimension consultant for the first year, later on which he came aboard total-time. The group had an middle toward cocky-sufficiency titles and books non readily available at Walden's and B. Daltons, the chain bookstores of the day. Over the first few years they learned the business by trial and error, with cracking attending to suggestions made by customers who before long became friends. Some also became co-workers at the shop, which was originally set up every bit a worker-endemic collective. All employees were owners and decisions were made by consensus.

Our First Motility

Every bit the business expanded, the shop outgrew its original 500 foursquare anxiety on 5th Street in downtown Tempe. In August of 1978—with the assistance of a human book brigade of customers and friends—they moved to a nearby location on Mill Artery, with 1700 square anxiety of selling infinite on two levels. The owners acquired an adjoining shop to the due south a few years after, and concluded up with books on three levels. Later still, they broke through the due north wall for some other add-on, and the store became a roomy 5000 square feet.

The worker-endemic collective evolved too. As the business concern grew, making decisions with a large group of people became complex and unwieldy. As some of the owners moved on to other pursuits, the group was reduced to a core grouping of owners. They started hiring workers every bit employees and have maintained their delivery to fairness and inclusion with all the unabridged staff,  recognizing that they brand upwardly the footing of good customer service. The current owners of Changing Hands are Gayle Shanks, Bob Sommer, and Cindy Dach.

Customs involvement in the early days of Changing Hands included Community Music Nights and the Friday Poetry Readings which still proceed today. Over the decades, author events, workshops and classes take become integral parts of the Changing Easily feel. They  now host some 400 events every year—from storytime events for the kids to appearances past local authors and countless New York Times bestselling novelists, celebrities, rock stars, politicians, sports figures, and more. Children'southward books and events are a vital component as well.  The owners know children are the hereafter of Irresolute Hands and the customs. Some of our kids-oriented offerings include costume events, Lodge Read, weekly storytimes, and visits by favorite authors.

Our Move from Mill Avenue

In the mid '90s, when downtown Tempe evolution began to head away from the needs of the local community, with hire and parking fees skyrocketing as national chains moved in, Changing Hands was forced to brand the painful decision to relocate—a huge undertaking, unlike anything the owners had encountered before. But once again—this time in the leap of 1998—they had the back up and assist of their big customs the readers they'd served for years. After moving to their electric current Tempe location on McClintock and Guadalupe, they found many new friends and neighbors who welcomed them warmly. After taking on 18 new employees at one time, information technology truly felt as if the store had been reborn. Two years later, in 2000, the Mill Avenue location closed forever when its lease expired.

Upwards until 1993 at that place were two excellent contained bookstores serving central Phoenix: Dushoff's at 32nd Street and Camelback, and Houle's on Central and Camelback. The year before, Bookstar, a big discount bookseller, had opened at Town and Country Shopping Center.

Then in 1993, Borders opened its huge 30,000 square feet shop at Biltmore Fashion Park, and Dushoff'due south announced that it would soon close its doors. Houle'southward succumbed the following year, both stores driven out by the loss of customers to the corporate giants. Those two chain stores prospered for most of the next 17 years, until 2011 when they both caved to contest from the web. Central Phoenix then found itself with no full-service concatenation or independent bookstores. That'due south the vacuum Changing Hands sought to fill three years later when it opened a 2d  location on 3rd Artery and Camelback in the summertime of 2014, directly across from a light rail station.

When deciding to open the second location, Changing Hands made the decision not to duplicate the commencement store. They were going into the historic Beefeater's restaurant location and wanted to accolade the significance of that celebrated community space, along with its mid-century compages. They wanted each store to reflect its community both in pattern and content.

Irresolute Hands Phoenix is dwelling to Starting time Draft Book Bar, which features coffee, wine, beer, and snacks. The Phoenix location has a dedicated upshot space, forth with ii meetings rooms equally requested through community outreach and feedback. First Draft Book Bar has an laurels-winning logo and has allowed the bookstore to abound its events programming by calculation a wine and beer component to the experience. As a result, Irresolute Hands hosts more authorless events, including our annual Craft Rave, Artisan Markets, First Draft Book Club, and an annual Harry Potter Birthday Political party, where feature Butter Beer, Polyjuice Potion, and more—in alcoholic and non-alcoholic versions!

The consequence infinite inside the Phoenix—known equally The Commons—has speedily become a favorite location for weddings, babe showers, holiday functions, and more.

AWARDS:

2003 Charles Haslam Award for Excelling in Bookselling

2009 - Publisher's Weekly Best Bookstore of the Year

2011 - Concern in the Arts Small-scale Business Honour

2018 - Governor's Arts Award for Modest Business

Yearly - New Times Best Bookstore

Yearly - Phoenix Magazine reader's choice best bookstore

simpsondiouse.blogspot.com

Source: https://www.changinghands.com/page/beginnings

Share this post