Blue House Books, Kenosha, Wis., is planning an expansion that will include room for more author events, book clubs, craft nights, children's programs, small business collaborations, and more. In a Facebook post, owner Samantha Jacquest noted that the bookstore is "even in the process of getting set up to serve coffee and wine! The new event space will be in our exact same building, which can be accessed through the bookstore or from an exterior entrance on 6th Ave!"
To help finance the expansion, Blue House Books took out an interest-free $15,000 loanwith KIVA, which was fully funded by the community within 15 hours.
Blue House Books launched as a popup bookstore in 2017, opened a small bricks-and-mortar store in 2020, and after a year moved to a larger space in 2021. When another retail space became available in the building, the bookstore decided to take it.
"Without you all, Blue House Books wouldn't be possible, and we are SO grateful to you!" Jacquest wrote in the Facebook post. "We're so excited to make our space even greater for our incredible Blue House community."