Still North Books & Bar, Hanover, N.H., will have its soft opening tomorrow, December 19, offering books initially and "adding on the rest of our food and beverage programs as we train our team and finalize our licensing. Can't wait to see you for some celebrating and holiday shopping," the bookstore posted on Facebook recently.
On Sunday, Still North added: "Sometimes after a crazy 'previe' day, you just need to take a minute to read a story aloud with your favorite children's book expert. Our official soft opening is Thursday. In the meantime, we'll be manically arranging and rearranging our inventory--and finding the time for the occasional story time break!"
Located in the former Dartmouth Bookstore space, Still North is owned by Allie Levy, who said earlier this year that she credits her time working as events coordinator at BookBar in Denver, Colo., with inspiring the new venture: "When I was in Hanover in November [2018], I couldn't stop thinking how Hanover needed an independent bookstore. I had seen how BookBar worked in Denver and thought how that idea could really work in Hanover, too."
In a letter to the editor published last month in the Dartmouth, Levy wrote: "Student needs and community needs are not--and should not be--mutually exclusive.... When I was a student, downtown had more student-oriented businesses than it does today (R.I.P. Bagel Basement and Five Olde). However, the town lacked spaces for students to come together with the community--beyond merely sitting in close proximity at a restaurant. Throughout the planning process, the Still North team has kept this need in mind--making design choices, selecting books, even choosing a name that I hope will appeal to both students and residents."