Ferguson Books & More, which has locations in Bismarck and Grand Forks, N.Dak., partially opened its new West Fargo location for a sneak preview sale this weekend, Inforum reported. While the store will not have its official grand opening until mid-December, customers were able to come in and fill a bag with used books for $20.
The West Fargo store is located in a 1,200-square-foot space on the ground floor of a newly built development. Like the other Ferguson stores, it is a general-interest bookstore carrying new bestsellers and a wide range of used titles. There are also sections focused on books by local authors and local-interest titles, and a variety of nonbook offerings, including toys.
Founder Dane Ferguson and his wife, Elizabeth, opened the original Ferguson Books & More in Grand Forks 10 years ago, a time when many of the larger chain bookstores in the area were closing. They now have three bricks-and-mortar stores and have run weekend pop-up sales in cities across Minnesota, Montana, North Dakota and South Dakota.
Ferguson observed that while the pandemic has been difficult, community members seem to be rallying around small businesses and looking to books as a way to escape their uncertainty and stress. "It's been a challenging year, but it's been a year that we've seen the fruits of our efforts."