Melissa Haffeman and Lacey Tucker, co-owners of the Islander Bookshop in Kodiak, Alaska, hosted a grand opening and ribbon-cutting celebration November 23 at 1315 Mill Bay Road. "The shop has always been a dream of mine," Haffeman told the Daily Mirror.
"Thank you for a spectacular opening day Kodiak!" the bookstore posted on its Facebook page. "Our community loves to read and to support small business! Thank you to everyone who came out, waiting patiently in long lines, and shared in the joy of bringing back a community focused bookstore to the island.... Because we had such a great opening and sold so many books--there are over 750 more books on their way to our island to restock our shelves. Thank you for all the requests and recommendations. Can't wait to post the picture of all those books arriving!"
On its website, the Islander Bookshop said it is "focused on creating a third space in the community--a place where people feel comfortable stopping in, browsing through books, seeing the latest creations from fellow artists and community members, wrapping their hands around their membership coffee mug, and relaxing with friends.... We are proud to bring a small, bookstore back to the island. We want to honor the bookshops that have come before--people speak so fondly of the Next Page and the Shire Bookstore.... The Islander Bookshop will continue to refine itself so that we are reflective of our community and provide an experience which is positive."