Hares & Hatters Bookshop hosted a grand-opening celebration last month at 200 S. Main Street, Suite G, in Pocatello, Idaho. Co-owners Nicki Stanton and Jamie Wood had launched their business in December 2022 as an online store and holiday pop-up, with the goal of eventually opening a physical storefront.
The genesis for the new bookstore's name came from the owners' desire "to evoke the magic of stumbling upon a hidden gem in a European alley. Inspired by Lewis Carroll's Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, the name stuck and became a beloved part of the store's identity," BYU-Idaho Radio reported.
"I just kind of joined on a whim and really became super interested in this idea of having an independent bookstore in Pocatello, especially after traveling around and seeing all of the amazing things that bookstores do for their community," Stanton said. "I really underestimated the amount of time and effort that it would take to redo the space. We touched every surface, we redid floors, ceiling, electrical. It took us about five weeks instead of four, but we were there every day doing construction. So, it's amazing now being able to go into the space, lock the door and leave and not have to go home and scrub paint out of my hair."
After finding a location, they still had to renovate the space, then learn how to navigate the complexities of the bookselling industry, which they're still trying to master. Although these challenges proved difficult, the community and other booksellers from the American Booksellers Association were there to help, BYU-Idaho Radio wrote.
"We didn't actually know how to get books, which is really funny. It took us about six months," Stanton said. "I'd get onto these ABA conference calls and there's all these seasoned booksellers talking about real problems and then I'd type my question, 'How do you guys buy books?' And so, it was a really funny process."
She also emphasized that Hares & Hatters isn't just about selling books; it's about fostering community in their town. The bookstore has already hosted some local vendors and plans on holding several author visits and book signings. "We have two authors that are already scheduled to come in August. We're really excited about that," she said. "We've had other authors reach out and we're just trying to find a good fit with schedules and times."