Actual Books, an all-ages, general-interest bookstore, opened earlier this fall in Kenmore, N.Y., Step Out Buffalo reported.
Located at 2956 Delaware Ave., Actual Books opened in October and spans 1,200 square feet of selling space. It carries new titles alongside zines, cards, tote bags, gifts, and a cooler with coffee drinks. The store held its first children's storytime on November 18, and future event plans include book clubs, readings, and art nights.
Prior to launching Actual Books, owner Pat Kewly spent 11 years as part of the team behind a now-closed art gallery and music venue called Sugar City and 16 years as a federal worker. He'd long wondered why Kenmore didn't have its own "one-stop, general-interest shop for buying new books," and this year decided to take the plunge and create one himself.
"As the world descends into slop and stupidity, it feels important to keep cultivating spaces where people can not only find good books, but gather to share ideas, support, friendship, and community, and we're hoping Actual Books can be a small part of that in our neighborhood and beyond," Kewly wrote on Instagram when announcing his plans for the store.
Kewly told Step Out Buffalo he "loved being a federal worker, but I honestly feel like I’m doing more good now than I was at the desk job that I left behind. Not a day goes by when someone doesn’t come into the shop and talk about how long they’ve been waiting for a store like this in the neighborhood, and how valuable spaces like this can be for people, particularly in scary and uncertain times.
"Providing a place for community, ideas, reading, and self-expression--spaces like that are more valuable than ever. Nothing feels better than putting a book in someone’s hand that they are excited to read."