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'''Little Professor Book Center''' is an independently-owned bookstore currently located at 2717 [[18th Street South Homewood|18th Street South]] in downtown [[Homewood]]. It is a part of a nationwide franchise.  The store is owned by the husband and wife team of [[Paul Seitz|Paul]] and [[Diane Seitz]], who have been running it since at least the early 1970's.  They owned an additional location in [[Roebuck Shopping City]] in [[Roebuck]], but eventually sold it to the Watkins, who ran it for them.  The Watkins opted not to continue as a Little Professor franchisee and renamed the store [[Watkins Book Shop]].
[[File:Little Professor black logo.png|right|125px]]
'''Little Professor Book Shop''', formerly '''Little Professor Book Center''' and '''Little Professor Books & Cafe''', is an independently-owned bookstore currently located at 2844 [[18th Street South Homewood|18th Street South]] in downtown [[Homewood]]. Although [[Paul Seitz|Paul]] and [[Diane Seitz]] opened it as part of a nationwide franchise with more than 120 stores, the surviving Homewood location is now one of only three Little Professor stores still open.


The Homewood store was previously located about two blocks south at 2901 18th Street, on [[The Curve in Homewood]]. In the late 1980's, an arsonist set a fire between Little Professor and the antique store behind it.  Little Professor was declared a total loss by the insurance company, primarily because of smoke damage to the inventory. The store was allowed to sell any intact books at a substantial discount, however, and did so out of their parking lot for a week or two.  After the damage was repaired and new inventory obtained, Little Professor reopened.
The Seitzes opened their original Little Professor franchise in [[Roebuck Shopping City]] in [[Roebuck]] in [[1972]], but sold it to [[Charlie Watkins|Charlie]] and [[Joyce Watkins]] in [[1973]]. The Watkins opted not to continue as a Little Professor franchisee and renamed the store [[Watkins Book Shop]].  The Seitzes then opened their first Homewood store at 2901 18th Street, on [[The Curve in Homewood]] in May 1973. During the 1980s the Seitzes opened two other Little Professor franchise stores. One at 3150 [[Overton Road]] in [[Mountain Brook]] opened around [[1988]], followed by another in [[Crestline]]. Both closed within a year or so.


The Seitzes opened two additional Little Professor stores in the Birmingham area during the 1980's. One was located at 3150 [[Overton Road]] in [[Mountain Brook]], opening c. 1988.  The other was in [[Crestline]]. The latter was only open for approximately one year. The former was also only open for a relatively short time.
In the late 1980's, an arsonist set a fire between the Homewood Little Professor store and an antique store behind it. The bookstore was declared a total loss by the insurance company, primarily because of smoke damage to the inventory. The store was allowed to sell any intact books at a substantial discount, however, and did so out of their parking lot for a week or two. After the damage was repaired and new inventory secured, Little Professor reopened.


Little Professor moved to its current location in the 1990's. [[Crape Myrtle's Cafe]] is located inside the book store, but is not owned by the Seitzes.
In October [[1992]], Little Professor moved two blocks south to a larger building at 2717 [[18th Street South Homewood|18th Street South]]. [[Crape Myrtle's Café]] (originally "L. Indica"), owned by [[Jim Muir]], operated in the rear of the building.


==External Links==
In [[2016]] the Seitzes sold the building to [[Capstone Companies]] headed by developer [[Michael Mouron]]. The store closed in January and reopened in March in the former [[Let's Get Organized]] location at 2844 [[18th Street South Homewood|18th Street South]].
* [http://www.littleprofessor.com/homewood/ Official website]


[[Category:18th Street South Homewood|2717]]
In January [[2020]], the Seitzes sold the store to new owners and retired. Within the first year under [[Jonathan Robinson|Jonathan]] and [[Meredith Robinson]], Little Professor refreshed its branding and implemented a membership program and began weekly book readings by Homewood locals and began offering birthday party packages. The Robinsons decided to stop sales of magazines and greeting cards to focus on books.
[[Category:Booksellers]]
 
[[Category:Downtown Homewood businesses]]
In [[2022]] Little Professor opened a second shop in the [[Dr Pepper Bottling Plant]] at 2807 [[2nd Avenue South]] at [[Pepper Place]]. The shop hosted "pop-up" events during [[Pepper Place Market|Pepper Place Saturday Market]] hours prior to opening for regular business. The Lakeview shop also serves coffee and alcoholic beverages.
 
The Homewood store relocated to the former [[Nadeau]] furniture showroom at 2738 [[18th Street South Homewood|18th Street South]] in [[2023]]. The new location offers more space for meetings and events, as well as an expanded children's area, outdoor seating, and dedicated parking.
 
== Gallery ==
<gallery>
File:Little Professor red logo.jpg|Former logo for Little Professor Book Center
Image:Little Professor 2007.jpg|Little Professor Book Center in March 2007
Image:Interior_of_Little_Professor_Bookstore.jpg|Interior of Little Professor in January 2017
</gallery>
 
== References ==
* Seitz, Pat (July 16, 2006) personal communication.
* [http://www.loansenseplus.com/industries/book_stores.asp?spg=6 Book Stores - Small Business Loans] (n.d.).  LoanSensePlus.com -accessed August 21, 2008
* Cromwell, Sydney (September 15, 2016) "Hatfield, Little Professor relocating after developer purchases property." {{HS}}
* Williams, Emily (January 26, 2017) "Homeward Bound: Little Professor Plans Move Back to the ‘Heart of Homewood’." {{OTMJ}}
* Warnke, Melissa Johnson (November 2018) "[http://alabamaretail.org/wp-content/uploads/Vol18No3November2018Web.pdf From Baseball to Bookstore: Pitcher Throws Changeup, Hits Homerun with Birmingham’s Oldest Independent Bookstore]" ''Alabama Retailer''. Vol. 18, No. 3, pp. 18-19
* Staff (March 24, 2021) "Homewood Business Happenings." {{HS}}
* Byington, Pat (August 29, 2022) "Little Professor opening second location in Pepper Place." {{BNow}}
* Embry, Neal (February 28, 2023) "[https://thehomewoodstar.com/businesses/for-the-love-of-books-little-professor-moving-to-new-locatio/ For the love of books: Little Professor moving to new location as it celebrates 50 years]." {{HS}}
* Bowser, Javacia Harris (March 12, 2023) "[https://styleblueprint.com/birmingham/everyday/little-professor-bookshop-meredith-robinson-mccall-hardison/ Meet the Women Behind Little Professor Bookshop]." ''[[StyleBlueprint]]''
* Bass-Butler, Gabby (Fall 2021) "Community Hub: Little Professor's owners are creating a bookstore that is far more than just a transactional experience." ''[[Homewood Life]]'', pp. 13–20
 
==External links==
* [https://littleprofessorbookshop.com/ Little Professor Book Shop] website
 
[[Category:Bookstores]]
[[Category:18th Street South Homewood]]
[[Category:2901 18th Street Homewood]]
[[Category:Homewood businesses]]
[[Category:1973 establishments]]
[[Category:Overton Road]]
[[Category:Crestline]]
[[Category:Pepper Place]]

Latest revision as of 15:07, 26 October 2023

Little Professor black logo.png

Little Professor Book Shop, formerly Little Professor Book Center and Little Professor Books & Cafe, is an independently-owned bookstore currently located at 2844 18th Street South in downtown Homewood. Although Paul and Diane Seitz opened it as part of a nationwide franchise with more than 120 stores, the surviving Homewood location is now one of only three Little Professor stores still open.

The Seitzes opened their original Little Professor franchise in Roebuck Shopping City in Roebuck in 1972, but sold it to Charlie and Joyce Watkins in 1973. The Watkins opted not to continue as a Little Professor franchisee and renamed the store Watkins Book Shop. The Seitzes then opened their first Homewood store at 2901 18th Street, on The Curve in Homewood in May 1973. During the 1980s the Seitzes opened two other Little Professor franchise stores. One at 3150 Overton Road in Mountain Brook opened around 1988, followed by another in Crestline. Both closed within a year or so.

In the late 1980's, an arsonist set a fire between the Homewood Little Professor store and an antique store behind it. The bookstore was declared a total loss by the insurance company, primarily because of smoke damage to the inventory. The store was allowed to sell any intact books at a substantial discount, however, and did so out of their parking lot for a week or two. After the damage was repaired and new inventory secured, Little Professor reopened.

In October 1992, Little Professor moved two blocks south to a larger building at 2717 18th Street South. Crape Myrtle's Café (originally "L. Indica"), owned by Jim Muir, operated in the rear of the building.

In 2016 the Seitzes sold the building to Capstone Companies headed by developer Michael Mouron. The store closed in January and reopened in March in the former Let's Get Organized location at 2844 18th Street South.

In January 2020, the Seitzes sold the store to new owners and retired. Within the first year under Jonathan and Meredith Robinson, Little Professor refreshed its branding and implemented a membership program and began weekly book readings by Homewood locals and began offering birthday party packages. The Robinsons decided to stop sales of magazines and greeting cards to focus on books.

In 2022 Little Professor opened a second shop in the Dr Pepper Bottling Plant at 2807 2nd Avenue South at Pepper Place. The shop hosted "pop-up" events during Pepper Place Saturday Market hours prior to opening for regular business. The Lakeview shop also serves coffee and alcoholic beverages.

The Homewood store relocated to the former Nadeau furniture showroom at 2738 18th Street South in 2023. The new location offers more space for meetings and events, as well as an expanded children's area, outdoor seating, and dedicated parking.

Gallery

  • Former logo for Little Professor Book Center

    Former logo for Little Professor Book Center

  • Little Professor Book Center in March 2007

    Little Professor Book Center in March 2007

  • Interior of Little Professor in January 2017

    Interior of Little Professor in January 2017

References

External links

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