Fort Wayne’s staple bookstore Hyde Brothers, Booksellers is celebrating 30 years of business with a weekend full of activities. From Thursday-Sunday, June 30-July 3, book lovers can visit the Wells Street store to enjoy sales and plenty of fun.

Founded in 1992 by brothers Sam and Joel Hyde, the store has established itself as a primary book retailer in the city. According to Tasha Bushnell, owner of Hyde since 2021, the store has “a little bit of everything.”

“About 97 percent of our inventory is used books,” she said, noting the small amount of new books obtained are those expected to be big sellers.

In addition to their extensive inventory of used books, the store promotes the community with its section of local authors, who will also be the spotlight of the first festivity of the weekend, “Last Thursday.” This event is a new series that will take place every month, giving local writers the chance to read their work to the community.

“What makes this unique is that most readings in town are genre-specific,” Bushnell said. “We want to eliminate the lines.”

Instead of an all-poetry or all-nonfiction reading, Last Thursday will contain a mixture of genres each week. The series’ launch on June 30 welcomes Helen Frost, Ketu Oladuwa, and Terri Richardson.

The events continue Friday with a midnight book sale, the first since mid-December. Following their usual 10 a.m.-6 p.m. hours, the store will reopen from 10 p.m. to 1 a.m. for a 15 percent off sale, $5 grab bags, and La Michoacana food truck. Humane Fort Wayne will also be on hand to accept donations.

Midnight sales have been very popular in the past, with the first one in 2013. They have typically been held in December as Hyde’s version of a Black Friday sale. The sales have been so popular that lines would span “the length of two buildings.”

Even though midnight sales have happened before, “this one is special,” Bushnell said. 

On Saturday, singer-songwriter Jess Thrower will perform at the store from 1-4 p.m. Then, on Sunday, Hyde will be hosting a Family Day, with TAG Art on hand with free balloon animals and face painting from 1:30-4:30 p.m.

No matter which day you stop by, remember to look out for the book store’s cats, Scout and Sherlock.