Arts Alive! podcast: Alsace Walentine and Candice Anderson

Today’s Arts Alive! podcast is a conversation with Alsace Walantine and Candice Anderson, owners of Tombolo Books in St. Petersburg.

The independent book store on 1^st Avenue S. opened in December 2019, just three months before Covid-19 forced businesses far and wide to temporarily shut down.

Haslam’s, the city’s iconic book center, closed its doors at the onset of the Covid pandemic – and, to date, has not re-opened. And so the torch was passed.

Tombolo filled the pandemic gap with home deliveries by car, and by bicycle; patrons could also pull up to the curb in front of the store and have their phone or online orders brought right to the vehicle.

The interview covers the early years in Asheville, N.C., where Walentine worked for the city’s top indie bookseller, a place where “the personal touch” – interactions with regular customers and recommending titles, as well as getting involved in community events and organizations – led to longevity and success. And a reputation as a curated center for literature as well as a cultural hub.

The couple talk about their eventual relocation to St. Pete, the business plan that would become Tombolo, changes in the city and their hopes (and plans) for the future.

Click on the arrow to listen to the interview.