IndieBound Blog

Peter Milazzo and his younger brother, James Leavy, had always loved the idea of opening a small business. Today they run Mayhem's Bookstore & Board Game Cafe in Lancaster, PA. 

The store features a highly curated collection of graphic novels, comics, and manga, a collection of over 300 games customers can play in-store, and a full service cafe. With their prime location, and mission to “complement rather than compete,” Mayhem’s is perfectly situated to become a Lancaster staple.

I sat down with Milazzo to learn more about Mayhem’s origin and operation.

Lavish Booktique is a pop-up shop in the Bronx that focuses on diverse titles written by women. 

Since opening Spelled Ink in Orange, Virginia, owner Cindy Pagan has been adamant about finding unique ways to serve her community. Today, the store features notary services, events for homeschooling families, and partnerships with multiple organizations, including the local food bank.

44th & 3rd Bookseller is a family-owned bookstore whose mission is to be a source of unbiased literature that shares the rich cultural experience of the Black community. Co-founder Cheryl Lee met with Bookselling This Week to share her story.

The Food Temptress Cookbook Store in Virginia Beach, VA, specializes in cookbooks written by Black authors. As the owner and sole employee, Rekaya Gibson is on a mission to “connect customers to cookbooks by Black authors that inspire creativity and preserve food traditions.” 

I met with Gibson to learn more about the store’s origin, mission, and operation. 

The King’s English Bookshop has been serving Salt Lake City, Utah, since 1977. With 47 years of bookselling behind it, I met with co-owner Anne Holman to learn more about the store’s history, its growth, and what’s in store for the future.