"This year I finally decided I'm just going to do it," said Sydne Conant, veteran bookseller and owner of Ink Cap Books in Stoughton, Wis.
Conant opened Ink Cap Books, a 1,200-square-foot store carrying new and used titles, in September. Roughly 40% of the inventory is new, while 60% is used, and amid the general interest, all-ages inventory, Conant has been making sure that diverse authors are represented and trying to highlight books that feature "a little bit of the natural world."
Since opening, Conant reported, fantasy has proven to be very popular, and she has had to expand the store's history selection. Alongside books she carries puzzles, journals, stickers, stuffed animals, and some items trending on TikTok, such as hair clips and mini coloring books.
Conant described the space's overall feel as "cozy, comfortable, and a little bit nature-y." There are multiple seating areas featuring both adult- and kid-sized rocking chairs, and free tea and coffee are available to customers. The store's first event was a ghost story night around Halloween, and recently Ink Cap hosted its first proper author event, which featured a writer from Wisconsin and their debut novel. Conant plans to host more events in the weeks and months ahead, and mentioned that she has a story hour with a local author planned for this month.
She described Stoughton, a town of about 13,000 people some 15 minutes south of Madison, as "very Norwegian" and very proud of that fact. As a result, she's made sure to have an ample selection of Norwegian- and Scandinavian-interest titles. In fact, the store's building holds the Stoughton Heritage mural, and Conant shares wall space with her landlord, who sells original art with a Norwegian and folk art focus.
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Touching on the store's name, Conant said she knew she wanted something related to nature, but originally had something different in mind. Then, while having trouble sleeping one night, she was thinking about her interest in mushrooms, particularly photographing them. The visual appearance of an ink cap mushroom, and the connection with "ink on the page," made her decide on it.
Prior to opening Ink Cap Books, Conant has worked in bookselling on and off since 1999, first at an independent bookstore in Michigan and then, from 2006 until recently, at a Room of One's Own in Madison.
In 2017, the same year Conant moved to Stoughton, the community lost a used bookstore after its owner passed away. A few years later, someone else decided to open a bookstore in Stoughton, but it only managed to stay open for a couple of years. Given her long experience in bookselling, as well as Stoughton's "very literate and artistic" community, Conant decided earlier this year to throw her hat in the ring.
So far, community members "have been really excited and supportive," Conant reported. She's already got some regulars who have been in multiple times, and word is spreading within Stoughton and the surrounding communities. "People are coming from out of town" to visit the bookstore. The space is dog-friendly, and she described her dog Butterbean as a "budding shop dog." The store's first month has "been really promising," and she's looking forward to seeing where things go as the holiday season approaches.
Asked how it feels to own a bookstore after so many years in bookselling, Conant said, "it feels good, and it feels pretty natural. It feels really comfortable." --Alex Mutter