Arts & Letters Bookstore, which launched in 2019 in Granbury, Tex., will host a grand opening celebration October 5 for its second location, in Weatherford. The new space is located in a restored 1908 building just off the city's historic square at 124 York Ave., and features new releases, bestsellers, stationery, children's books, greeting cards, toys, games, and more.
Owner Roxanne Laney told Hood County News that five months after she opened the original bookstore, "we had to close because of Covid, and that was kind of a struggle because we really hadn't established ourselves. When we reopened, business was pretty slow most of that year because people just didn't know what was up, and it was really hard to stay open--but we managed."
Despite the challenges, Laney and her team adapted their business model, cultivated a loyal customer base, and ultimately created a community hub that celebrates the joy of reading. After experimenting with various strategies during the pandemic, she experienced a pivotal moment when she spoke with a fellow bookstore owner from Colorado that essentially transformed her business model.
Laney started focusing on managing her inventory, rather than just revenue. She also realized that much of her stock was tied up in unsold books, which limited her ability to invest in new titles. Another revelation was being advised that face-outs sell more books, she recalled. "I can't believe the difference in our sales."
With improvements in place, Laney said she felt it was the right time to open a second location, as she can spread overhead costs across two stores and work toward profitability. After contemplating locations in Stephenville and Fort Worth, Laney fell in love with the charm and potential of the building in Weatherford, which has recently undergone extensive renovations.
"It is so nice," she said, noting that she is particularly excited about the unusual personality the Weatherford store will bring. "I did some research. We live on the tourist business here, and I don't think Weatherford is the tourist town that Granbury is, but Parker County is way bigger than Hood County by like 100,000 people or more. I just thought, 'Well, that might be enough to sustain it.' "
There has been a good response to the new store thus far. "People come in all day long wanting to know about opening," she said. "I've even had people call this store and say, 'Hey, I heard this. I just wanted to tell somebody, because I'm so happy,' but I think that's good. We're a team, and we have different personalities to accommodate, and I think the new store (will have) a different set of personalities, so it'll look a little different, and I think that's exciting.... I have five years of experience now, and I've had help from peers. We kind of know what to do, and I think it'll be exciting to see if we can do better in a new location."