520 companies, several “straw men”, a labyrinthine network, and estimated at least 100 million euros in tax evasion. The owner of bakery chain “Horiatiko”, Angelos Giannakopoulos, and another 58 persons have been arrested since yesterday, Sunday. After Pizza Fan chain raids and arrests last week, the raids and arrests in Choriatiko is the second case […]
Kate McNeil opened All the Tropes, a romance bookstore, six weeks after quitting her job.
Despite concerns about market saturation, All the Tropes thrives as a niche community destination.
Passion, perseverance, and local support helped McNeil launch her business.
This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Kate McNeil, a 41-year-old small-business owner based in Atlanta. It's been edited for length and clarity.
I joined an online group of fellow romantasy readers, looking to connect with other people who also enjoyed my favorite form of escapism. That group had over 2,000 members, and it was difficult to feel a sense of community. Eventually, it broke off into local chapters.
After COVID, I didn't know of any dedicated space for these same readers to meet in Atlanta. That's how I started the journey to opening the first romance bookstore in my neighborhood. In the two years since I opened, more romance bookstores have opened up, including one less than two miles away.
I thought I'd retire from my teaching job
When I launched All the Tropes bookstore, I was working a job I thought I'd retire from. I taught theater at Decatur High School for six years. My students always came first. I didn't want those kids to feel like I wasn't present or that they didn't have my undivided attention, so the bookstore was a back-burner idea for a few years.
I'd get home from rehearsal at 11 p.m., conduct business research until 2 a.m., then get up at 6 a.m. and go to work the next day and teach.
I took my time to gain a full understanding of the market, but there were still challenges
I learned about dealing with publishing companies and book distributors, connected with local artists to showcase their work, and reached out to local authors. One of the biggest challenges was finding a place for the store.
I knew that I wanted to stay on the east side of Atlanta because I lived in Kirkwood and felt very connected to the community.
In 2024, I found a location a four-minute walk from my home, and I knew it was time to make my idea a reality. In May of that year, I quit my teaching job and prepared to open the bookstore by the end of summer on Romance Bookstore Day.
I had 6 weeks to get the store ready for opening day
I received the keys to the bookstore six weeks before the day I planned to open. The timeline I had for opening day came with a lot of risks. I had cashed in my retirement fund, quit my job, and had a large preorder of "Onyx Storm" before there were bookshelves in the store.
There were many times my friends and I didn't leave the store until 4 a.m. A local artist painted the shop; I printed my merchandise at a local shop in Kirkwood; and I created the fabric wall. There were many nights I had doubts that All the Tropes would come to fruition.
I was a mom with two young kids opening a niche business that, to my knowledge, would be the first in the state, but I was prepared. I had my accounts with publishers, and my branding was complete. Perseverance, my husband, my village of friends, and an invested community got me to opening day.
All the Tropes opened August 17, 2024, on Romance Bookstore Day. In the span of a few months, I went from a passionate high school teacher to the owner and operator of a romance bookstore.
An increase in niche romance bookstores in the city concerns me
Even in a city like Atlanta with several thriving independent bookstores, I wonder about the percentage of residents who read for fun and, more specifically, read romance. While becoming a general indie bookstore would allow me to sell so many other things, I still believe All the Tropes can continue to thrive in a niche market, despite oversaturation.
Unlike a large book retailer, All the Tropes is a destination spot people can come from out of town to visit. Our social presence and promotion of local writers and artists also offer something unique to readers.
All the Tropes could pivot to general fiction, but so far, more stores opening has not impacted store traffic or sales.
4 Things helped me turn my business idea into a reality
All the Tropes continues to thrive because of my original vision of creating a community space for romance book lovers to connect. We now have eight active book clubs and continue to see consistent revenue.
Passion, trusting my gut, therapy, and a supportive group of friends are the reason I was able to turn an idea I brainstormed late at night into a successful niche business ready to grow.
We are now ready for a larger space and to expand our three-person team.
Do you have a unique small business story to share? Email the editor, Manseen Logan, at mlogan@businessinsider.com.
LeBron James' multimillion-dollar real estate portfolio is as impressive as his NBA career.
His portfolio includes a $36.75 million Beverly Hills property where he's building a compound.
He also purchased a home in Coconut Grove. Take a look at the homes he's owned over the years.
LeBron James has had a legendary run on the court. The four-time NBA champion has played for the Cleveland Cavaliers, Miami Heat, Los Angeles Lakers, and now the Philadelphia 76ers, winning titles with his first three teams.
His real estate portfolio has grown alongside his career. James has bought homes near most of the cities where he has played, building a multimillion-dollar collection of properties in the process.
Forbes estimates James' net worth to be $1.4 billion as of publication. Over the years, he has secured lucrative endorsement deals and business ventures with brands including Nike, Beats by Dre, PepsiCo, and Fanatics.
Now, James is reportedly living in a luxury building in New York City and commuting by helicopter to Philadelphia for 76ers games and to the team's practice facility in Camden, New Jersey (the flights are covered through his partnership with Fanatics) — a routine that has drawn criticism from some fans.
Take a look at some of the properties James has purchased over the years, from a custom-built home in Akron, Ohio, to a 13,000-square-foot mansion in Beverly Hills.
The NBA star's first real estate purchase was a home worth more than $ 2.1 million outside Akron, Ohio.
In 2018, LeBron James, in partnership with Akron Public Schools, opened the I Promise School.
Allison Farrand/NBAE via Getty Images
James was born and raised in Akron, Ohio, and the city remains a big part of his life.
In 2003, after the Cleveland Cavaliers drafted him at age 18, he purchased an almost seven-acre property in Bath Township, a community just outside Akron, for more than $2.1 million.
After tearing down the property's existing home, he built a 30,000-square-foot house in its place. The six-bedroom, fourteen-bathroom home includes a recording studio, a full barbershop, a home theater, a sports bar, and a two-lane bowling alley, Robb Report reported.
While James spends much of his time outside of Ohio these days, he's still very connected to Akron.
In 2018, through the LeBron James Family Foundation, he opened the I PROMISE School in partnership with Akron Public Schools. The public elementary and middle school serves at-risk kids, providing them with free meals and transportation. Eligible students also receive free tuition to the University of Akron.
James bought a $9 million home in Coconut Grove before it was cool.
James briefly owned this home in Miami.
Courtesy of Opulence International Realty
In 2010, after seven years with the Cavaliers, James announced during a live, hourlong ESPN special that he would be joining the Miami Heat. The move became one of the most controversial moments in NBA history.
While many Cleveland fans saw it as a betrayal, Miami welcomed James with open arms. That year, he purchased a 13,930-square-foot, six-bedroom home in Coconut Grove for $9 million.
After four years with the Heat, during which James helped bring home two championships along with fellow superstars Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh, he listed his Miami home for $17 million. After returning to Ohio, the home eventually sold for $13.4 million, Realtor.com reported.
A Realtor.com listing shows the home was last sold for 18.5 million in 2023. It's no surprise its value has climbed. Over the years, Coconut Grove has become one of Miami's hottest and wealthiest neighborhoods, attracting high-profile residents including Citadel CEO Ken Griffin and Google's cofounder and former CEO Larry Page.
James liked Brentwood so much that he bought two mansions in the neighborhood.
Brentwood, a neighborhood in California.
Adam Mustafa/Getty Images
James returned to his hometown to play for the Cavaliers in 2014. But when he bought a $21 million, six-bedroom mansion in Brentwood the following year, it sparked rumors that he could eventually move to the Lakers.
The 9,440-square-foot colonial-style home had eight bathrooms and amenities, including a basketball court, a home gym, and an infinity pool. James eventually sold the home for $19.6 million in 2021, Robb Report reported.
In 2017, James purchased a second Brentwood property for $23 million. The newly built mansion had eight bedrooms, marble floors, 14-foot ceilings, and a rooftop terrace overlooking Los Angeles.
The speculation about James joining the Lakers proved right in 2018, when he signed a four-year, $153.3 million deal with the team. In 2020, he led the team to an NBA title and became the first player in league history to win Finals MVP with three different teams.
James bought a Beverly Hills mansion for $36.75 million and is building a compound in its place.
Lerbonn James bought a $TK home in Beverely Hills.
Alexis Gonzalez/Getty Images
In 2020, James made his biggest real estate purchase to date when he bought a 13,000-square-foot mansion in Beverly Hills for $36.75 million.
The mansion, which sat on 2.5 acres, was built in the 1930s and once belonged to Lee Phillip Bell, the co-creator of the soap operas "The Young and the Restless" and "The Bold and the Beautiful," Realtor.com reported.
In 2023, he demolished the existing home and began building a new compound from the ground up. According to Robb Report, the plans call for two homes: a roughly 16,000-square-foot, two-story main house with a 7,700-square-foot basement garage, pool, spa, and outdoor kitchen; and a 6,550-square-foot, one-story guesthouse with a basement theater and hot-and-cold plunge pools.
James is living in New York during the basketball season, while his wife, Savannah, and their daughter remain on the property as construction continues.
In October, the couple gave Vogue a look inside the property. Among their most treasured features in the home is an OxyHealth hyperbaric chamber, the Vitaeris 320 model, which, according to the health website Regenerated, can cost between $ 18,000 and $23,000.
Giorgos Vardinoyannis, one of the best-known figures in Greek business and sports, who also had a significant presence in the commercial shipping industry, died on Friday at the age of 90. Widely known by the nickname “The Captain”, Vardinoyannis was associated not only with the Athens soccer team Panathinaikos FC but also with the Vardinoyannis […]
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