Still North Books & Bar, which will open this fall in part of the space formerly occupied by the old Dartmouth Bookstore, Hanover, N.H., has launched an IndieGoGo campaign to raise $75,000 to purchase inventory.
Owner Allie Levy has a startup budget of $350,000 and emphasized that personal funding and loans will cover most of that amount, including "what I need for build-out, fixtures, professional services, and operating expenses." Funds raised through IndieGoGo will go to books; if the amount raised goes above $100,000, "will go towards making the store an even better place for you to hang out--more comfy chairs, better reading nooks, more programming." Campaign perks include tote bags, bookmarks, selections of books, and "drip coffee for a year."
As noted last week, Levy is a Dartmouth alumna who was events coordinator at Denver's BookBar, which she credits as inspiring Still North, and also worked in marketing at Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.
With 2,700 square feet of space, Still North will focus on "literary fiction, narrative nonfiction, indie presses, local and alumni authors, book club picks, poetry, outdoor reference and guides, cookbooks, and theory" and serve wine, craft beer, coffee and food. "We don't just want you to buy your books here; we want you to stay and enjoy them, maybe even make a friend or find some community, and the physical space will reflect that," Levy wrote. "We look forward to welcoming you for our community events, including readings, signings, book clubs, story times, trivia and game nights, and more."