![\"openisopen\"](\"https:\/\/lbpost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/openisopen.png\")
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Photo via Open’s Facebook page<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n Three years ago, Long Beach lost a literary landmark. Many remember {open} as a vibrant bookstore, art gallery, and event space. After nine glorious years in business\u2014and being named the city’s Best Bookstore<\/a> by Long Beach Post<\/em> readers\u2014{open} closed its doors in 2012.<\/p>\n “I’m not throwing in the towel. I kind of\u2026 need a bigger towel,\u201d Reed told the Post<\/em><\/a> <\/em>at the time.<\/p>\n This Friday, {open}\u2014now simply \u201cOpen\u201d\u2014makes its long-overdue comeback as the “book” half of “Long Beach\u2019s first book bar,” The Brass Lamp.<\/p>\n \u201cOpen is not a bookstore in the traditional sense,\u201d Reed told the Post <\/em>in a recent interview. \u201cI don\u2019t want to replicate a process that already exists\u2026 I\u2019m calling it a ‘literary art installation piece.'”<\/p>\n Open is a bookstore distilled. \u201cFor someone who’s not as much of an avid reader, even going to a Barnes & Noble can be daunting,\u201d she said. \u201cThere’re so many titles.\u201d<\/p>\n More and more, Reed continued, people rely on content aggregators like The Huffington Post<\/em> to filter good content from bad.<\/p>\n \u201cOpen is providing that filter. It’s like a gateway drug,\u201d Reed laughed. \u201cA gateway bookstore!\u201d<\/p>\n The new Open will feature a smaller, but carefully-curated range of books. \u201cIt\u2019ll be ever-changing,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n Open will feature a permanent collection\u2014a roster of select titles that will remain in stock\u2014as well as a rotating selection from local experts in various fields.<\/p>\n These books will be “hand-picked by people I’ve hand-picked! I’ve curated the curators!” Reed said enthusiastically.<\/p>\n Perhaps most exciting, though, is Reed\u2019s inventory of beautiful used books, each with its own unique story.<\/p>\n \u201cI have this awesome copy of Oil! <\/i>by Upton Sinclair from 1927,\u201d she said. \u201cThat took place in Signal Hill! I want people here in Long Beach to read that.\u201d<\/p>\n There’s no doubt that online retail has changed the way we buy books. \u201cBookstores were becoming showrooms,\u201d said Reed. \u201cYou go, you check it out, then you go online and buy stuff.\u201d<\/p>\n Rather than try to fight this widespread shift in how we consume literature, Reed has embraced it.<\/p>\n \u201cEach book has a link to my website\u2026 and on the site is a link to Amazon,\u201d said Reed.<\/p>\n From there, people can choose from a variety of formats and editions, and Open receives a small percentage through the Amazon Affiliate program. If one finds a particular book too seductive an object to pass up, Open will be happy to sell it to you on the spot.<\/p>\n “The idea behind what I’m doing is getting people to read these books,<\/i>” said Reed.<\/p>\n On The Brass Lamp\/Open\u2019s new status as roommates, Reed said, \u201cit all just fit together really nicely\u2026 Samantha [Argosino] came along, described the concept, and I was like, ‘Yeah. That’s<\/i> the concept.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n While Open and The Brass Lamp remain independent as businesses, together they form a singular community space for Long Beach to come together over its loves of literature, art, music and fine libations.<\/p>\n In addition to The Brass Lamp\u2019s events\u2014including wine\/chocolate pairings and live music\u2014Open will be hosting its own events.<\/p>\n \u201cNot on an ongoing all-the-time basis,\u201d said Reed, \u201cit’s going to be more selective, just like the books.\u201d Open\u2019s first event, a reading featuring internationally-renowned slam poet Buddy Wakefield, is in the works at time of writing.<\/p>\n Open\u2019s opening celebration is at 8:00 PM on Friday, October 23 at The Brass Lamp and will feature a performance by Alicia Murphy. For more details, visit Open on Facebook<\/a> or at openthebookstore.com<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n Open and The Brass Lamp are located at 245 The Promenade North.<\/em><\/p>\n {FG_GEOMAP [33.770204,-118.19145600000002] FG_GEOMAP}<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Three years ago, Long Beach lost a literary landmark. Many remember {open} as a vibrant bookstore, art gallery, and event space. 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