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Watch for our NEW on-line store. Coming Soon Right Here!
1341 Main Street, Sarasota Florida 34236 (corner of Main St. & Palm Ave)
Phone 941.365.6332 Fax 941.365.6215; 7:30 AM to 11 PM Monday - Saturday 7:30 to 10 PM Sunday
sarasotanewsandbooks@comcast.net
SARASOTA NEWS & BOOKS, an award-winning, locally owned and operated, independent bookstore in downtown Sarasota, Florida, celebrates its seventh anniversary on October 1, 2004. Sarasota, located south of Tampa on the Gulf Coast of Florida, sits on Sarasota Bay and is surrounded by several barrier islands including the famed Longboat Key, Siesta Key, Casey Key and Anna Maria Island offering some of the most beautiful white sand beaches in the world.
Founded by Richard and Caren Lobo, he a veteran television executive, and she, a marketing and design specialist, the 3,000 square foot bookstore, café and newsstand, has become an anchor for the downtown shopping and entertainment district, a dynamic force in Sarasota´s intellectual community and a haven for book lovers of all ages. It offers approximately 20,000 books, 1,000 magazines as well as domestic and foreign newspapers, cards and gifts, and a European-style indoor/outdoor café that features gourmet Italian coffees served in hand painted Italian cups, as well as pastries, sandwiches, beer and wine.
In 2002 Dick Lobo returned to television when he was named president and CEO of WEDU-TV, the 45-year-old public television station in Tampa, and one of the most-watched public television stations in the United States. Caren Lobo continues to head up SARASOTA NEWS & BOOKS.
The 23-person staff is led by general manager David Chaplin, senior bookseller, Hester Jeswald, and assistant manager Leanne Jensen, all veteran booksellers with tremendous knowledge of and love for the book industry and the local market. Hester is well-known as the regional book club expert and is regularly sought after as a moderator and advisor.
Combining their marketing and media savvy with book industry veterans Chaplin and Jeswald, the Lobos have created a store with influence far beyond its four walls.
Marketing initiatives include the founding and development of the enormously successful Sarasota Reading Festival, an annual, free, day-long literary festival that celebrated its sixth anniversary in November 2003. In the last five years the Sarasota Reading Festival has presented hundreds of acclaimed authors and free literary programs for readers from all segments of the community. It has given thousands of free books to children. Sponsored by over 50 major corporate and foundation sponsors, it also raises funds for the Selby Public Library and Cook Library at New College. The presenting sponsor is the Sarasota Herald-Tribune. The Festival generates extensive media exposure in Florida's #1 TV market.
The Palm Literary Society is another major program produced jointly by SARASOTA NEWS & BOOKS, Northern Trust Bank and the Sarasota Herald-Tribune and founded in 2001. This exclusive, ticketed luncheon series for a maximum of 400 guests, features prominent authors representing major works of fiction and non-fiction for an upscale audience from January through April, Sarasota´s high season.
The Lobos work closely in advising Sarasota Herald-Tribune book editor, Susan Rife, and in assisting her in the promotion of the Book Club she created for the paper in 2001. Ms. Rife selects primarily works of fiction in paperback by mid-list authors deserving broader attention, promotes the book through the paper and presents the author in monthly programs.
FORUM 2004 was created by a group of community leaders who live full time and part time in Sarasota. It's focus is to present programs on issues of national concern leading up to the 2004 Presidential Election. www.forum2004america.org Speakers to date include Ron Suskind, Kevin Phillips, Nan Aron, Dale Bumpers, Molly Ivins, E.J. Dionne, Donna Brazile, Jack Nelson, Haynes Johnson and more.
SARASOTA NEWS & BOOKS partners with organizations planning major events. Institutions such as Leadership Florida, the Ringling School of Art & Design, the William G. and Marie Selby Foundation, the Chamber of Commerce, the Women's Resource Center, the Architects Association of Florida, WUSF FM 89.7, the Florida Holocaust Museum and many others avail themselves of our expertise.
And SARASOTA NEWS & BOOKS regularly presents its own special author events in the store and in other outside venues ranging from 200 to 1200 seats. Heavy emphasis is placed on promotion using the strength of all available media outlets locally, on the Gulf Coast and nationally to bring books, authors and readers together to share a mutual love of literature. (Click Here For List of SN&B's Featured Authors from the past)
This winning combination of solid industry knowledge combined with marketing and media expertise and dedicated community outreach make SARASOTA NEWS & BOOKS a thriving and dynamic business that is proud to represent the spirit of independent booksellers everywhere.
For additional information on how your organization can work with us contact: Caren Lobo 941-308-7325 or lobo3139@comcast.net
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At the corner of Main & Palm in beautiful downtown Sarasota | 
