Independent Bookstore To Reopen After Flooding In Alexandria

ALEXANDRIA, VA — Hooray for Books, an independent children's bookstore in Old Town Alexandria, is temporarily closed due to flooding damage from Monday, July 8. It will reopen on Wednesday, July 17.

The owner said in an email to customers that there was minimal damage to inventory, except for donations collected for its Read-A-Palooza book drive. The bookstore collected new and used books for The Campagna Center, which provides educational programs for children and families. Owner Ellen Klein told WTOP the books were supposed to have been picked up the day before the flooding, but that never happened. The bookstore plans to hold a new book drive once it reopens.

The bookstore is looking for volunteers to restock shelves, alphabetize books and dust on Tuesday, July 16 between 2 p.m. and 6 p.m. Customers can begin making new or gently used book donations for the book drive on Wednesday. New books for the drive can be purchased at the store with a 15 percent discount through Aug. 6.

The author event with Anna Meriano was rescheduled for Wednesday, July 17 at 5:30 p.m. and she'll be helping with the cleanup Tuesday. The Bastille Day discount, which gives 20 percent off for all things French is rescheduled for Saturday, July 20.

Hooray for Books is located blocks from the King Street Metro, an area that saw significant flooding and water rescues in Monday's storm.