Kwame Spearman has stepped away from his co-ownership position at Denver Book Society in Denver, Colo., barely a month after the bookstore opened. The former Tattered Cover CEO-turned 2023 mayoral candidate, who launched the new venture with Rich Garvin, left "amid community backlash over his comments on immigration enforcement during the 2023 mayoral campaign," the Denver Post reported.
In a "leadership update," owner Rich Garvin said he had tapped Spearman to help with operations, inventory and programming, but it became clear in recent weeks that "a change in leadership was needed... Kwame is passionate about preserving independent bookstores, and I'm appreciative of his early contributions. However, his continued involvement in Denver Book Society is not serving the mission of this bookstore."
In a Westword column, Spearman wrote: "The Denver Book Society is in a really good place, and it has reached the point we always intended, where I transition out of my role in the business and Rich Garvin alone leads it forward.... From the very beginning, the plan was that once we reached this point, I would transition out of my role in the business and the bookstore would move forward under Rich’s sole leadership. This transition is not a change in direction. It is the completion of the original plan."
Noting that he has "spent the last several years trying to build and contribute in this city and across the state," Spearman added: "Part of doing that is a willingness to step into the public arena. When you do that, you accept that sometimes you will be misunderstood, mischaracterized, or simply get things wrong."
The Post noted that Spearman's column "appeared to refer to several weeks of social media uproar over resurfaced comments he made on conservative talk radio station KNUS during his brief campaign for Denver mayor in 2023.... that Denver should restart its collaboration with immigration officials. He dropped out of the mayoral race three weeks later."
On Friday, Garvin posted a statement on social media, noting, in part: "Let me be clear: DBS exists to be a welcoming, inclusive space for everyone--a place where stories bring people together. That commitment remains unchanged, and we are continuously working to amplify it.... We look forward to continuing in the future with community-centered programming, partnerships and initiatives that give back locally and champion inclusion, equity and the support of immigrant communities."
"This store is my greatest passion project; I’m sorry that personnel choices alienated the Denver community and that I failed to recognize these issues in advance. I hope that the steps we’re taking will instill confidence, but we know trust is built over time as we focus on doing this important work with our community."