Idaho Bookstore Debuts New Look, Big Changes

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BookPeople of Moscow, a bookshop founded in 1973 in the college-minded community of Moscow, Idaho, has a new look and a new plan for the future.  New owners Carol and Walter Spurling and Steffen and Nicole Werner purchased the shop in December 2011 and reopened it this past February. The store is hosting a grand reopening celebration today, May 17.

After BookPeople’s previous owner retired, the store was in danger of closing, until the new owners stepped in. From there, Carol Spurling said, everything “fell into place.” Each owner has played an integral part in the store’s relaunch, from the remodeling to the book selection and the aesthetics. Even the Spurlings’ son, Reed Christopher (aptly named after Christopher Robin), has staked a claim to the closet above the stairs as a place for homework and reading.

The store’s layout is strikingly different since the renovation. Everything was removed and replaced — the new shelves are made of local bamboo plywood; reds, creams, and cozy browns are on the walls; and there is a large, expanded children’s area with oversized bean bag chairs and a giant teddy bear.

The most pivotal change, however, is in the inventory.  Before, the store stocked mostly used items with a small selection of new. Now, the store sells primarily new books and uses the funds from used book sales to give back to the community (i.e., literary events, literacy projects, and other charitable giving).  This spring, BookPeople collaborated with the University of Idaho MFA in Creative Writing program for a series of readings featuring authors Willis Barnstone, Robert Wrigley, Mary Troy, Steve Almond, Brady Udall, and Anthony Doerr.

The reopening celebration is shaping up to be a great event.  The store itself is now large enough for events, due in part to the moveable shelving in the children’s area. BookPeople has invited many local authors to sign their books and do readings. Kim Barnes, who is releasing a new novel shortly after the opening, will be there, along with nationally recognized poet Robert Wrigley.  The food and drink will be plentiful, including a special non-alcoholic punch whipped up by Spurling herself. Local musician Charlie Sutton will provide live entertainment.  The store is giving a 15 percent discount on books all day long, along with door prizes and raffles, and will officially launch a teacher discount program and a frequent buyer club.

BookPeople, at its heart, is a community bookstore. Spurling knows this and takes it seriously. “I feel as if I’m a caretaker for a beloved community institution and my job is to make sure the store meets the community’s needs,” she said, adding, “I like to dream big, and we’re off to a great start.” --Amanda Cerreto