Book Moon Books, Easthampton, Mass., is running an IndieGoGo campaign that aims to capitalize on the recent purchase of its building and "make sure Book Moon will be in Easthampton for a very long time. We hope you, friends and readers, will help up with increasing our loan payments so that the store can breathe a little easier.... Independent businesses have a better chance of survival when they no longer have to fear rising rents. This crowdfunding campaign will reduce the significant debt we took on."
The campaign has met its initial goal of $10,000, but Blue Moon hopes to raise more to help the store, which is part of a five-store business condominium association, get on the best financial footing. That will help with future expenditures that include--beyond mortgage and condo fees--repaving the back parking lot, weatherproofing the building, redoing interior lighting, and replacing the gas furnace with a heat pump.
Book Moon began in 2019, when author Kelly Link and Gavin J. Grant, owners of Small Beer Press, bought White Square Books and renamed it Book Moon. The store offers some 20,000 books, cards, T-shirts, candles, puzzles, games, notebooks, and chocolate.