Barefoot Cowgirl Books, Flagstaff, Ariz., has been bought and renamed Bright Side Bookshop, according to Flagstaff Business News.
The new owners are Lisa Lamberson, who owns and operates Mountain Sports, a neighbor of the bookstore; her husband and business partner, Ben Shaffer; and Annette Avery, a businesswoman. The 1,750-square-foot store was founded two years ago by Nancy Nelson, who put the store up for sale in connection with a move away from Flagstaff.
"Independent booksellers across the country are multiplying and I think the pendulum is swinging," Lamberson told Flagstaff Business News. "What was old is again new."
Avery added: "The younger generation has hit a point where they are so taxed with electronics--they're on the phone, on social media, on the computer at school. Browsing in a bookstore allows them to unplug from something they’re plugged into all day long."
The new owners plan to expand the store's offerings, including more kids, YA, middle reader and local history selections as well as increase the number of activities the store hosts. "You need to have a place to gather for a slide show or a writing workshop or a Ukrainian egg dying workshop or a story time--things that might align with books and then things that are just kind of wacky and not in alignment with books," Lamberson said.
The trio is also hiring more staff and has been approached by customers who want to volunteer.