A staple downtown Burlington business is moving out soon.Phoenix Books will be leaving its location on Bank Street next month after 12 years.However, they aren’t going far.They’ll be relocating onto Church Street, in the former home of the high-end lifestyle store Slate. “We’re really excited about this opportunity, “said Renée Reiner, Phoenix Books co-owner.Since the distance is short, 140 steps, in fact, Reiner decided to commemorate the upcoming move by hosting a brigade.Community members stretched in a line from their current store to their future home.They handed each other books one at a time. Some familiar faces joined the line, including former Vermont Senator Patrick Leahy and award-winning author Chris Bohjalian, who wrote the thriller novel “The Flight Attendant” that later turned into an HBO Max show in 2020. “If it weren’t for Phoenix Books and bookstores like it, I would be simply shouting my stories from Addison County, hoping somebody hears them,” Bohjalian said.Bohjalian said he is excited about the new space.He said bookstores offer so much to a community.“A bookstore is far more than a room full of books,” Bohjalian said. “A bookstore is a community gathering place. And to the fact that the new Phoenix Books is going to have books, of course, but it’s going to have an event space. It’s going to have an opportunity for people to gather and share what stories mean to them.”Other participants in the line included Bill Calfee.Calfee is the chief visionary officer for Myti, an online distribution website that works with Phoenix Books to get their books across Vermont.He said there’s a need for more locally owned businesses.“If we keep money here, that creates jobs that that supports institutions like this, that are part of the economic vibrancy and the culture of Burlington,” Calfee said.However, public safety concerns have recently driven several businesses off of Church Street, including the previous owner, Slate.Collin Hillard from the Burlington Business Association, said while there are still some vacancies, he appreciates Phoenix Books’ commitment to the downtown. “We do have a little bit higher rate now than we usually do, but it is great to see that interest and that Phoenix Books and Little Istanbul and folks like that are moving in,” Hillard said.Reiner said they wanted to re-invest in downtown Burlington.“We want to be a part of the solution,” Reiner said.Phoenix Books hopes to open its new location on Church Street by the end of August.
A staple downtown Burlington business is moving out soon.
Phoenix Books will be leaving its location on Bank Street next month after 12 years.
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However, they aren’t going far.
They’ll be relocating onto Church Street, in the former home of the high-end lifestyle store Slate.
“We’re really excited about this opportunity, “said Renée Reiner, Phoenix Books co-owner.
Since the distance is short, 140 steps, in fact, Reiner decided to commemorate the upcoming move by hosting a brigade.
Community members stretched in a line from their current store to their future home.
They handed each other books one at a time.
Some familiar faces joined the line, including former Vermont Senator Patrick Leahy and award-winning author Chris Bohjalian, who wrote the thriller novel “The Flight Attendant” that later turned into an HBO Max show in 2020.
“If it weren’t for Phoenix Books and bookstores like it, I would be simply shouting my stories from Addison County, hoping somebody hears them,” Bohjalian said.
Bohjalian said he is excited about the new space.
He said bookstores offer so much to a community.
“A bookstore is far more than a room full of books,” Bohjalian said. “A bookstore is a community gathering place. And to the fact that the new Phoenix Books is going to have books, of course, but it’s going to have an event space. It’s going to have an opportunity for people to gather and share what stories mean to them.”
Other participants in the line included Bill Calfee.
Calfee is the chief visionary officer for Myti, an online distribution website that works with Phoenix Books to get their books across Vermont.
He said there’s a need for more locally owned businesses.
“If we keep money here, that creates jobs that that supports institutions like this, that are part of the economic vibrancy and the culture of Burlington,” Calfee said.
However, public safety concerns have recently driven several businesses off of Church Street, including the previous owner, Slate.
Collin Hillard from the Burlington Business Association, said while there are still some vacancies, he appreciates Phoenix Books’ commitment to the downtown.
“We do have a little bit higher rate now than we usually do, but it is great to see that interest and that Phoenix Books and Little Istanbul and folks like that are moving in,” Hillard said.
Reiner said they wanted to re-invest in downtown Burlington.
“We want to be a part of the solution,” Reiner said.
Phoenix Books hopes to open its new location on Church Street by the end of August.
