ALAMOSA — “This is such a great bookstore.” “I love your bookstore.” “We just had to stop at your bookstore, and we’re so glad we did.” “I could spend hours in here.”
Staff and volunteers at the Narrow Gauge Book Cooperative hear similar phrases every time they work a shift. Sometimes, the words are from San Luis Valley locals, and sometimes they are from visitors just passing through.
Whoever says it, the staff and volunteers agree: the NGBC is a great bookstore. They all spend time beyond their scheduled shifts browsing the selection of new and used books, attending author events, and enjoying the featured artist of the month. Most of all, they enjoy each other’s talents, knowledge, and their shared commitment to the cooperative’s mission.
In February of 2018, the Narrow Gauge Newsstand announced its closing after 40 years of selling magazines, newspapers, books, and providing freshly popped popcorn. Jan Oen, a current volunteer, recalls being in the car with Julie Mordecai when the “closing” banner went up.
“Julie slammed on her breaks and said, ‘We can’t lose our only bookstore!’” Oen recalled.
Many in the community agreed, and the community held meetings, beginning on Feb. 27, 2018, to brainstorm ways to reopen the doors and keep the shelves full. Julie Mordecai suggested a cooperative model as a way to accomplish this feat, and the Narrow Gauge Book Cooperative was born. Community members wanted their bookstore, and they were given a direct way to get it back: donations of money, donations of used books, and the option to become partial owners, board members, and volunteer staff.
The rest is history, as the NGBC celebrates its fifth anniversary this month. The going has not always been easy, but those involved in the cooperative believe that the collaborative nature of the store — the way that that the community came together and used their talents and continues to do so — makes the cooperative model a success.
Marlena Antonucci and Cathy Morin shared in an interview that part of launching the bookstore was letting people run with their ideas and use their talents. Antonucci was completing her year with AmeriCorps and had a great passion to do community organization work, so she became the ideas person, while others like Morin and Oen brought their previous experience in public health (Morin) and retail and community work (Oen) to help with carrying out those ideas.
It really did take a Valley to fundraise and then reopen the store. There were open houses at the Main and State location, where volunteers, owners, and members brought food and local talent played music, and people cheered and rang bells any time someone became a member or owner or donated. There was an Indiegogo campaign, a Call-A-Thon, and an event at the Colorado Farm Brewery. The community pulled together, and the grand opening happened on Aug. 11, 2018, just over 5 months after the Newsstand closed its doors.
Louisa Cheslock, an owner and board member, volunteer, and now staff member, lights up any time people come into the store looking for a new read and always has a few options ready to share.
Delilah Aratani, the current floor manager, has an uncanny ability to remember customer preferences: this one likes to have a bookmark in each of his books when he comes through, that one is sure to want the newest sci fi novel, and that box of books that just came in is full of special orders and she knows exactly who ordered each one.
Allison Cruse, the current general manager, can tell you about the types of books published by different small presses, and gasps with excitement as she unpacks orders, lovingly stroking the covers as she receives and shelves each one.
Each time the bell on the door rings, the person who walks through, whether a regular customer or a friend waiting to be made, is sure to be welcomed with helpfulness and enthusiasm for the written word. When you come into the coop, you know it is a place for booklovers, and for community.
Be sure to check the NGBC Facebook, Instagram, and newsletter for fifth anniversary activities, the week of Aug. 21. The Narrow Gauge Book Cooperative is located at 602 Main St., Alamosa.
