Alabama Booksmith Gains Global Attention After New Yorker Feature

The one-of-a-kind bookstore in Homewood, Alabama has been flooded with orders from around the world since its profile in the prestigious magazine.

Published on Feb. 23, 2026

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Alabama Booksmith, a unique bookstore in Homewood, Alabama that exclusively sells first edition books signed by their authors, has seen a surge of interest and orders from around the world after being featured in a recent article in The New Yorker magazine. The store's owner, Jake Reiss, says they have been "inundated with new orders" and are working hard to catch up since the profile was published.

Why it matters

The feature in The New Yorker, a highly respected and influential publication, has brought national recognition to this small, independent bookstore in Alabama. It highlights how a niche, community-focused business can find success by catering to a dedicated customer base, even with an unconventional business model. The overwhelming response also demonstrates the power of media coverage to drive significant interest and sales for a local retailer.

The details

Alabama Booksmith was founded in 1990 by Jake Reiss as Highland Booksmith, and is the only bookstore in Alabama that exclusively sells first edition books signed by their authors, often at the publisher's regular retail price. Despite this unusual approach, the store has built a loyal following of around 5,000 customers worldwide who receive email updates on new signed titles each week. The recent New Yorker profile, written by author Casey Cep at the suggestion of fellow author Ann Patchett, has led to a flood of new orders from readers around the globe eager to purchase these rare, signed books.

  • Alabama Booksmith was founded in 1990 as Highland Booksmith.
  • In 2019, Casey Cep launched her first book 'Furious Hours: Murder, Fraud, and the Last Trial of Harper Lee' at an event at Alabama Booksmith.
  • The New Yorker profile on Alabama Booksmith was published in February 2026.
  • Earlier in 2026, Alabama Booksmith was also featured in the February/March issue of Garden & Gun magazine.

The players

Jake Reiss

The owner and founder of Alabama Booksmith, a one-of-a-kind bookstore in Homewood, Alabama that exclusively sells first edition books signed by their authors.

Casey Cep

A New Yorker staff writer who authored the recent profile on Alabama Booksmith, titled 'The Unlikely Success of a Strange Alabama Bookstore'.

Ann Patchett

A New York Times bestselling author who owns the famous Parnassus Books in Nashville, and suggested to Casey Cep that The New Yorker should do a story on Alabama Booksmith.

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What they’re saying

“After nearly 50 years, I don't quite understand it, either!”

— Jake Reiss, Owner and founder, Alabama Booksmith (bhamnow.com)

“My dear friend Ann Patchett, who owns the famous Parnassus Books in Nashville, suggested to [Casey] that The New Yorker ought to do a story on Alabama Booksmith. Ann Patchett's name carries a lot of weight.”

— Jake Reiss, Owner and founder, Alabama Booksmith (bhamnow.com)

“We've been inundated with new orders this week, and we have been working night and day to catch up. We even put a disclaimer on our website—we thank our customers for their patience!”

— Jake Reiss, Owner and founder, Alabama Booksmith (bhamnow.com)

What’s next

Alabama Booksmith is continuing to fulfill the surge of new orders it has received since the New Yorker profile, and may need to adjust its operations to handle the increased demand.

The takeaway

The success of Alabama Booksmith, a small independent bookstore with an unconventional business model, shows how niche businesses can thrive by catering to a dedicated customer base. The national attention from the New Yorker feature demonstrates the power of media coverage to drive significant interest and sales for local retailers.