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Vaulting ambition in Decatur
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Back in the ‘80s, various Marvel Comics supervillains were sentenced to a specially designed prison called The Vault.
Venom, Tarantula, Piledriver — they all did their time inside.
Zach Steele, owner of Wordsmiths Books in Decatur, did not know this colorful bit of geek trivia when he hit upon the idea of turning a former bank vault into his store’s new comic book room. And not just comics, but science fiction, fantasy, graphic novels and the popular Japanese genres anime and manga — they’re all inside the cool little room with the massive slab of metal for a door.
Wordsmiths, an independent bookstore, re-opens today on Decatur Square in the former Sun Trust bank building, having moved this week a couple of blocks from its former location on Trinity Street. It’s the building Steele wanted to be in all along, an unusual space for a bookstore with big chandeliers hanging from the ceiling, former loan officers’ offices lining one wall, and the big vault tucked away in the back.
Wordsmiths will continue booking authors for in-store appearances, as well as the odd cooking demontration or concert. One corner of the former bank will have a stage with chairs set up; and the walls are lined with signed posters from past appearances by the likes of Amy Sedaris and Stuart Woods.
Wordsmiths opened last June, and has yet to turn a profit, Steele says, which is the way it goes. “We’re a first year business, so not yet,” says Steele. But the good news, for Wordsmiths, is that “Decatur doesn’t have any big box stores for us to compete with, and there’s a strong literary base here.”
To celebrate the move, Wordsmiths will have an Edible Book Festival Saturday in Decatur Square outside the store. Anyone can make “edible art that has something to do with book shapes or content.” I anticipate bad puns. Anyway, entry is $5 in the amateur division and $25 in the pros, and proceeds go to Literacy Volunteers of Atlanta. Set-up starts at 2:30 p.m., judging at 4 p.m.
You can download the registration form on the website.
Pictured above is Russ Marshalek, Marketing Director of Wordsmiths Books. Photo by Renee’ Hannans Henry/AJC.
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