River Arts and Books, a nonprofit bookstore and literary space, has opened in Roscoe, Mont., the Billings Gazette reported.
Director and co-founder Caroline Joan Peixoto officially opened River Arts on Friday, July 5. The nonprofit resides in a historic building that was once Roscoe's post office. The building has three rooms, with the first containing the bookstore. At opening, Peixoto had an inventory of around 2,000 books, with new and used titles available.
The building's second room is an event and community space that has already been used for meetings and performances, with Peixoto planning to add yoga classes, author talks, and other gatherings to the mix. The third room, which is still being worked on, will be used for a writing retreat that Peixoto expects to be operational next year.
The Gazette noted that Roscoe is a tiny town, with only 16 residents as of the 2020 census. There is only one other business, the Grizzly Bar, which is open seasonally. Peixoto said there's nothing like River Arts and Books in the area, and she hopes to provide a space for writers, artists, and community members to connect with each other and with nature.
To help open River Arts and Books, Peixoto raised nearly $35,000 through First Friday events, fundraising parties, and more. "It's been really encouraging, especially in a place like this," Peixoto told the Gazette. "When you dip your toe out there, you hope people won't think you're crazy."