Don't call it a comeback. Independent bookstores are experiencing a full-on renaissance, and another just opened in Indianapolis.

Why it matters: Booksellers from giant Barnes & Noble to small, independent shops have rebounded after years of decline as readers increasingly seek community spaces and in-person shopping experiences.

Zoom in: Perasma Book Company celebrated its grand opening in Broad Ripple over the weekend, becoming one of more than a dozen bookstores to open in the region over the last several years.

• "You guys really brought the love," Sara Shelley, owner of the travel-inspired shop, said after the opening.

The big picture: As AI threatens to disrupt information consumption, bookstores have remade themselves as a hideaway from modern distractions and a place of authentic discovery.

• "You have people deciding that they want to align their work with their values, and they're passionate about bookstores, they're passionate about their community," Allison Hill, CEO of the American Booksellers Association, says.
• "And then, on the other side, you see consumers, readers wanting to shop in alignment with their values."

What they're saying: Peggy Stover, a University of Iowa business marketing professor, said bookstores are benefiting from the trend of Gen Z seeking out analog experiences, such as vinyl records.

• "It's going back to the past where the technology was simpler and there's also a feeling of nostalgia that is involved in the popularity of bookstores," Stover says.
• "People use them as a gathering place to go have a cup of coffee, do it as a meetup, and I think Gen Z is looking at that habit again and bringing it back."

By the numbers: The number of U.S. bookstore companies rose 70% from 2,010 in 2021 to 3,416 in 2025, according to the American Booksellers Association.

• 73% of booksellers recorded a sales increase in 2025, with more than 47% — saying sales rose at least 6%.

The bottom line: Bookstores are hanging tough.

HI-FI's long-anticipated expansion is finally moving forward after organizers say a state grant provided much-needed momentum to a project they feared might fizzle out.

Why it matters: The development aims to give Fountain Square a three-venue entertainment destination that can host everything from larger touring acts and multi-day festivals to intimate community events and up-and-comers.

Driving the news: HI-FI's remix of the historic Murphy Arts Center starts next month with the help of a $1 million READI 2.0 Arts & Culture Grant from the Indiana Economic Development Corporation.

• The expansion, estimated at a total cost of $5 million, is one of 49 projects sharing $65 million allocated to the state's creative economy.

Stunning stat: HI-FI says the expanded campus will draw more than 150,000 visitors a year.

What they're saying: "There were more than a few moments when it felt like this expansion might never happen, so receiving READI support is incredibly meaningful," HI-FI co-founder and CEO Josh Baker said in a statement. "It wasn't the finish line, but it became the catalyst that gave us the confidence and momentum to take the next step."

Flashback: Owners first shared their vision in 2024 for a new 1,200-capacity music venue in the former site of Granada Theater to continue the Murphy Arts Center's long legacy as a place for entertainment and gathering in the Circle City.

• That plan called for the new venue to open in early 2026, providing a permanent home for the outdoor HI-FI Annex in the process.

Yes, but: Project delays led to an unexpected encore season at the Annex, and questions about the status of the expansion.

What's next

🩺 Medical care requests stacked up at the understaffed Miami Correctional Facility under the weight of an influx of detainees after the state opened it to aid in President Trump's crackdown on illegal immigration.

• An investigation found massive backlogs that led to the deaths of two detainees. (IndyStar)

🚴 Monon Trail users say recent safety upgrades at the 16th Street intersection made "an overnight change" to one of the city's most dangerous intersections.

• There's been a 73% drop in severe incidents, and the rate of drivers stopping for pedestrians has doubled since traffic calming murals were installed and the road was narrowed from four lanes to two. (FOX59)

🏓 Brownsburg Parks recently launched several new programs, including a women's run club, pickleball and a veteran's walking group. (Current Publishing)

👋 Arika here!

Tbh, I had different plans for this space — but then I stumbled upon Little Cup's matcha pop-up at the Mass Ave Summerfest and plans changed, y'all.

Driving the brews: Matcha is obviously having a moment right now and Little Cup makes it easy to see why.

• Their ceremonial-grade matcha drinks are style and substance.
• Little Cup releases a new menu of delicious, creative seasonal flavors each month.

Brew of the week: Fig Cream Matcha.

• A fruity take on a matcha latte, sweetened with house-made fig syrup and topped with a fig cold foam.

How to get it: Little Cup doesn't have a brick-and-mortar shop but hosts regular pop-ups and started offering pick-up downtown this spring.

• Pickup orders are made through Instagram.
• Little Cup's next pop-up is Saturday at Indy Gay Market's Big Gay Summer's End, from noon-5pm at The AMP at 16 Tech.

👋 Arika here!

Last month, I wrote a story about "chaos gardening," the viral TikTok trend of scattering seeds and letting nature take the wheel.

Growing the news: In reporting that story, I was inspired to try it myself and turn a neglected, weed-filled corner of my backyard into a chaos garden experiment.

• Our Instagram followers will know I cleared out the weeds, sprinkled a random assortment of seeds I had lying around and covered them with a thin layer of dirt.
• Other than a bit of weeding and a couple of waterings at the start and during some super hot days, I've left the patch to its own devices.

The result: Seven weeks later, I've got a lush patch of flowers — mostly zinnias, with some dill and a couple of mystery plants mixed in.

• It's brought me such joy and satisfaction to watch the sprouts emerge, grow and blossom.

The bottom line: If you're looking for an incredibly low-maintenance project with big payoff, give it a shot!