EDITOR’S NOTE: Shopping local is important to our rural communities, especially this time of year. With that in mind, we recently did a Q&A interview with Amy Erickson, owner of the Detroit Lakes independent bookstore Bluebird Books. After all, don’t books make great gifts?
Where did the idea of owning your own independent bookstore come from? Talk about the journey.
Owning my own bookstore has been my dream for as long as I can remember. Bookstores have always been my happy place! When the last bookstore in town closed several years ago, I started dreaming and discussing it with my family. My kids were very enthusiastic about the idea and now work in the store. My husband took a little more convincing but is now very pleased with how everything turned out.
Why are bookstores important?
I feel very strongly that bookstores are the center of any community and that any community without one can’t thrive. In fact, the research I did about opening a bookstore supports that. We’ve been open for a year and a half and things are going well! We’re learning as we go and having a great time doing it.
What do you want customers to experience when visiting your store? What brings them back?
I love the idea of a bookstore being a “third place” between work and home, a place that feels like you can just slow down and be in the moment. My ultimate goal is to be the kind of place you feel an urge to pop into just to see what’s new, say hi, and maybe pet one of the shop dogs. They love the attention.
Where did the Bluebird Books name come from?
I wish I had a great story for that, but again, research told me that alliteration was important for the name of a business, so we went with the “b’s.” That being said, I do love birds. Bluebirds are a symbol of happiness and books do make me happy.
Detroit Lakes seems to be growing and really blooming. What is one way the community supports you?
I agree that Detroit Lakes is flourishing! It’s amazing how many great things are happening here all the time, especially for a town this size. The community has been incredibly supportive in so many ways, but one specific way is the number of people who order special order books through our store. They could shop at the big “A” as we call it and save a few dollars. But they want a bookstore in town. They see the value in shopping small and local so that amenity is available. And often when people come in to order a book, we have it on the shelf, which people love!
What’s on your holiday book wish list? What book are you recommending this holiday season?
I’m in love with the writing of Claire Keegan. She writes these small stocking stuffer-size novellas that can be read in an afternoon and you’ll want to pass along to a friend. My book club is reading the first in the “Thursday Murder Club” series and I’m very much looking forward to that. Our recommendations depend on what people have enjoyed reading in the past. But I love it when someone is open to a new genre. My employee, Mary, is the undisputed master of book recommendations, though, so pop in Wednesday through Friday if you want to chat with her.
This project is called Live Wide Open. What does the phrase Live Wide Open mean to you?
To me, Live Wide Open means being open to change and adventure, which I’ve been a proponent of my whole life.
