DECATUR, Ga. — A metro Atlanta business is no longer welcome at a well-known, yearly festival after a multitude of complaints regarding staff behavior were shared with event organizers.
The Decatur Book Festival, one of the largest independent book-related events in the United States, has called metro Atlanta home for 20 years.
After the 2026 festival, organizers banned Kiss and Tale Romance Bookshop from participating at future events.
A post on social media, which included video, made by one of the Decatur Book Festival attendees accused staff at the Kiss and Tale booth of “acknowledging everyone but the Black shoppers.”
Other posts with similar comments followed and complaints were also made directly to festival organizers, including from other vendors who said they were treated similarly when trying to interact with the company’s staff.
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In a statement, a Kiss and Tale spokesperson said that the store and its owners had always tried to create a welcoming and inclusive environment, acknowledging that people were hurt but saying the behavior mentioned was not done intentionally.
After the festival, the event organizers chose to cut ties with the Kiss and Tale Romance Bookshop, which opened in Decatur in September 2025.
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In a statement shared with Channel 2 Action News, Decatur Book Festival Executive Director Bailee Yarbrough said, “We are aware of concerns raised by attendees regarding their treatment at one of our street fair exhibitor booths. After reviewing the matter, we will not invite Kiss and Tale Bookshop to participate in future festivals. The Decatur Book Festival is for readers and writers of every background. We expect every exhibitor to make each attendee feel welcome and respected.”
After the decision, Kiss and Tale addressed the separation and the circumstances of the event.
As far as the decision to block Kiss and Tale from participating in the festival going forward, the company said, “We respect the Decatur Book Festival’s decision, as it is well within their rights to partner with whomever they choose, for any reason. However, we were never given the opportunity to directly address the situation, provide context or collaborate in any capacity. We would have appreciated the ability to converse directly with the event organizers and be notified, personally.”
The company also issued a second statement to the community, acknowledging the behavior people attending Decatur Book Festival reported to its organizers.
“We, at Kiss and Tale Bookshop, have always worked hard to create a welcoming, inclusive and respectful environment for everyone in our bookstore and in every space where we show up at festivals or events in the community. We have heard you, and we recognize and understand that we did not provide every one of our individual customers with a positive experience at the recent Decatur Book Festival,” a Kiss and Tale spokesperson said.
In a longer discussion sharing their side of what transpired during the Decatur Book Festival, Kiss and Tale said the booth had been “incredibly busy” and that staff was focused on managing the long line and checking out customers.
Despite that, the company said they recognized there were times throughout the day when they “failed to properly greet or give everyone the level of attention that we expect of ourselves,” and said that no staff member or company owner was “intentionally ignoring or singling out our customers with selective response behaviors.”
The company said that type of behavior is not who they are, or what they believe in, and that they will work to do better. The company also thanked those who were still supporting them, saying they appreciate the support, patience shown, and understanding at this time.
“We truly value the feedback we have received. We are identifying any gaps in customer experience and areas where we can improve, as we work to ensure that everyone feels comfortable engaging with us and our business,” a statement said in closing. “We are taking this very seriously, and we will do better.”
Channel 2 Action News reached out to Decatur Book Festival for more information on the complaints alleged against Kiss and Tale Romance Bookshop and is still waiting for a response.
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