Hardback Books, focusing on science fiction and fantasy titles, hosted its grand opening on Halloween, October 31, at 325 E. 31st St., Suite 104, in Kansas City, Mo. The debut came "after months of anticipation" in Midtown, "an area with a growing reputation as a must-visit for book lovers and avid readers," the Star reported.
"It was great. It was super busy, very chaotic, but it was great," said owner Timothy Finley. "Our shelves were pretty bare afterward, which is what we're doing today, recovering from that, and we just got this shipment in to kind of get back to where we were at with inventory."
The opening featured live music, story time, and a raffle. Finley added that a line of people was waiting when he unlocked the door at 10 a.m. "At 11:30 people really started pouring in," he said. Multiple times "the line stretched all the way back to a bookshelf filled with science fiction titles in a nook at the back of the store.... I had high hopes, but it very much surpassed even what I was expecting."
Opening a bookstore stocked with sci-fi and fantasy selections had always been Finley's dream, the Star noted. Hardback Books, it continued, is "bathed in sunlight from its oversized windows, has dark brown standalone shelves throughout the space and large leather couches in front of a custom mural to create a space for people to sit with their books and connect."
"I really want this to be a spot where people can grab a book and hang out for a little bit," said Finley, who noted that early next year he hopes to use the space to host author events and other initiatives to bring people, especially the science fiction readers, together. "I very much want to be part of the neighborhood, and like interacting with others within the community, having events here and stuff like that with other businesses. The thing I love about books is like the community aspect of it, bringing people together."