Literally, A Bookshop will host a grand opening tomorrow in its new bricks-and-mortar space at 397 S. Gilbert Road, #140 in Gilbert, Ariz. The Gilbert Sun News reported that owner Laura Sharp "cherished a goal of setting up a bricks-and-mortar bookshop in the Southeast Valley," and will achieve it this weekend when she launches her 848-square-foot store in a 110-year-old preserved family home in Farmhouse Village.
"We've been really fortunate that the community has been interested in supporting us. Something like this can't happen without the support of the community," Sharp said. "So, it's been very much building over time, building a customer base, putting things out there."
Sharp began her bookselling career with small pop-ups at farmers markets, festivals, and special events, along with organizing homeschool book fairs. She did this for three years before setting up a self-checkout book space at the now-closed Peacock Wine Bar in Gilbert. Last July, she created a micro-store inside Dulce Vida Coffee in Chandler.
In addition, Sharp launched a newsletter; organized story times and two book clubs for children; partnered with local authors; and started a book club for adults at HD SOUTH: Home of the Gilbert Historical Museum.
"We've tried to give something back to the community at each stage of what we're doing, and I'm hopeful that's what we'll be able to do in the next space, too," she said, adding: "I think there are people who miss having bookstores to be able to go to physically in person. And I think independent bookstores offer a little bit of unique flair. Every independent bookstore is a little bit different than the next."
Regarding the new location, she noted, "I could not have asked for a better space. It has so much charm and character, which is something that we were looking for because I feel like a bookstore should be in a really charming spot. As a story lover, I love the idea that there's a hundred-plus years of history in this house already."
Sharp also said that from the beginning, she had "looked for books that create connection between people, that spark curiosity, and that inspire joy. That's what we're trying to bring out to the world through our store. That is the litmus test that I use before I submit every single book order."