Fergie's Bookshops, the 16-year-old business in Fargo, N.Dak., formerly known as Ferguson Books and More, will be closing January 30. In October, owner Dane Ferguson had announced he was relocating the bookstore from Roberts Alley to a new space inside Daily's Market at 216 Broadway.
In a recent post on social media and the store's website, however, Ferguson wrote that the decision to close was made "with much prayer, reflection, and honest discernment. What began as a simple belief in the power of books and community grew into something far bigger than I ever imagined. Over the years, having 4 stores in 4 different cities across North Dakota, Ferguson Books became places of discovery, connection, generosity, and shared moments--from first books and lifelong favorites to bag sales, author visits, school partnerships, and countless conversations that mattered.
"These stores existed because of people. Customers who showed up again and again. Families who made them part of their routines. Teachers, librarians, authors, nonprofits, and local partners who believed in what we were building. Staff members who poured heart, patience, and care into the work--often far beyond what the job required. And my family, who lived every high and low of this journey alongside me."
He added that he is working closely with the owner of a new local bookstore, Overbooked, that will be opening later this year, "sharing both what I've learned and the mistakes I've made along the way. I wholeheartedly encourage our customers and the broader community to support this new store when it opens and to continue championing independent bookstores."
Ferguson closed his announcement with: "Though the doors are closing, the impact of what we built together does not disappear. Ferguson Books was never just a business to me; it was a mission, a calling, and a season of life I will always carry with gratitude and pride. Thank you for reading with us, growing with us, praying for us, and believing in the quiet power of books and community."