Angela and Jamie Schwesnedl, owners of Moon Palace Books in Minneapolis, Minn., have won the Midwest Bookseller of the Year award, given by the Midwest Independent Booksellers Association.
In a long citation that includes the store's history, MIBA wrote, in part: "Thanks to Angela and Jamie's dedication over the past eight years, Moon Palace is known for its expansive footprint--within its physical space and the hearts of the community. Moon Palace is radically welcoming, with a generosity of spirit that radiates throughout the community and the book industry at large. In a year no one could have predicted, Angela and Jamie responded to both the pandemic and the civil unrest after the killing of George Floyd by prioritizing the safety and well-being of their community before their bottom line."
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Angela and Jamie Schwesnedl with their daughter Roxie |
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Jessica Peterson White, owner of Content Books in Northfield, Minn., said, "Jamie and Angela have adapted their business to the pandemic and the heartbreaking destruction of the neighborhood with agility and care, setting a brilliant example of resilience and allyship for booksellers across the Midwest and the country."
Jason Gobble, Moon Palace's sales rep for Penguin Random House, said, "They promote the power of books to make the world a better place, and the world's a better place because of them."
During the unrest following the murder of George Floyd by local police, Moon Palace, which includes the restaurant Geek Love Café, was in the center of the tumult, only a few buildings from the police precinct that was burned.
"Jamie emerged as a staunch supporter of the demonstrators and a national voice for putting people before property," MIBA said. "He scrambled to stop the police from setting up a staging area next to the store and Geek Love Cafe turned out pizza for people in the streets. When customers offered to help pay, Jamie said to send donations to George Floyd's family.
"As quoted in the New York Times, Jamie shared a post to their social media asking people 'not to put themselves "at risk" to protect our store. Things that may be lost or damaged in our building are just things, but your life is priceless, just like George Floyd's life was priceless. Be safe.' "
MIBA concluded, "Moon Palace's story is ultimately one of perseverance, through three locations, a global pandemic, and civil unrest. The bright colors on their storefront, the adorable sloth mascot sitting on books and eating pizza--they tell you to keep calm and keep on reading. Their storefront untouched by fire or vandalism suggests there's hope to be had, that we will come together to embrace a new day free from racism."