The Lore, a new and used bookstore that began as mobile shop in 2022, has opened a bricks-and-mortar storefront in Norman, Okla., OU Daily reported.
Store owner Kim Bieda found a space at 220 S. Porter Ave. in Norman, and welcomed customers for the first time during a soft opening on April 6, with a grand opening celebration this coming weekend. The Lore carries a variety of fiction and nonfiction intended to uplift LGBTQ authors, BIPOC authors, and other diverse voices.
"We are making sure that we have stories here that you don't always get to see and meet in life," Bieda told OU Daily. "When we read stories from other cultures, even if they are fictional, we get such an insight into the history and culture that those people come from."
In addition to books, Bieda sells items from local artists and artisans, as well as art supplies, yarn, and other materials for knitters and crocheters. The shop has a large patio, and Bieda hopes it becomes a gathering place where people can read, talk, knit, and play board games.
Bieda was inspired to open a bookstore after attending a bookstore crawl in Oklahoma City. At the time, Norman had no independent bookstores, and a few months after the event, Bieda thought: " 'Why can't I do it?' There is no degree you have to have to own a bookstore. I love books, and I have a lot of hustle."
The Lore made its debut in February 2022, and since then Bieda has formed partnerships with local businesses in Norman like 405 Brewing Co. and Yellow Dog Coffee. Lore operates three monthly book clubs that meet at the former, and Bieda plans to continue doing monthly pop-ups even with the bricks-and-mortar store open.