New Gilbert Bookstore fulfills the owner’s dream – Gilbertsunnews.com

Laura Sharpe of Gilbert worships the goal of putting a brick and mortar bookstore in the Southeast Valley.

On Saturday, February 8th, she will fulfill her target when she opens 848 square feet literally a bookstore at an 110-year-old Farmhouse Village Family House of 397 S. Gilbert Road.

Perhaps the transfer of her success is a tired statue of Mark Twain, who reads a book just outside her store.

“We really had the fortune that the community was interested in our support. Something like this cannot happen without the support of the community, “Sharp said. “So it is a lot of construction over time, building a customer base, putting things there.”

Sharp, the mother of two boys, began to invade books with small pop books of books at special events in the Southeast Valley. She has done this for nearly three years on farmers’ markets, festivals and special events, and also organizes books on books for home schools.

This helped her find out if the community was interested in an independent bookstore.

A few months after the creation of a book self-government space at the already closed wine bar in Gilbert, last July, it created a micro-shop inside the Dulce Vida Coffee in Chandler.

Her book spaces received an exposure to two different customer bases. It was rewarded with trafficking in walking, as well as organic mouth -to -mouth publicity, which brought clients.

She created a newsletter to announce her events; organized history times and two books for children for children; partnered with local authors who talked to children how to write their own stories; And they cooked unwanted children to read, recommending only the right book.

Sharp also launches an adult book club at HD South: the House of the Gilbert History Museum, which meets twice a month every other month.

Also, for adults, she runs a forbidden book club, choosing a monthly volume of those who have been drawn from shelves for various reasons.

“We tried to bring something back to the community at every stage of what we do, and I hope that we can do it in the next space,” she said.

Independent bookstores are small and far between in the Valley of the Southeast Valley.

“I think there are people who fail to have bookstores so that they can go personally personally. And I think independent bookstores offer a little unique sense. Every independent bookstore is a little different than the next one, “Sharp noted.

There is also a negativity to large online retailers.

“We definitely have people who enter who are looking for an extremely option that is different from Amazon and who want to support a small local business,” Sharp said. “And these people are really what the bookstore builds.”

The place of the bookstore is also remarkable. Previously, the village house was owned by the early residents of Gilbert, Ruth and Eliza Harmon, who moved to Gilbert in 1913 and purchased a triangular batch of railway tracks and live in tents in the property until they were able to build the house around 1915 S

“I couldn’t ask for a better space,” Sharp said. “He has so much charm and character that we are looking for because I feel like a bookstore must be in a really charming place.

“As a lover of history, I love the idea that there are already a hundred or years of history in this house.”

Born just outside Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Sharp said her family had moved so much that she didn’t know where to call home.

When she moved to Arizona about 11 years ago with her husband, who owns a local healthcare company, this was the sixth condition of her residence.

Books have always been a constant companion. Sharp’s college degree is in journalism with minors in English and classics.

“There is the idea of ​​books such as doors, windows and mirrors in which you can see yourself reflected,” she said. “You can browse a book to see what another world looks like.”

She feels strong about attracting stories.

“When I finally came to the point that I was ready to start this store, I just felt that the world was in a very dividing place. I have a feeling, ”she said.

“So, in particular, from the first day of the store, we have sought books that create a connection between people who cause curiosity and who inspire joy,” she said. “This is what we are trying to bring to the world through our store. This is the Lakmus test I use before sending every book order. “

A literal bookstore will host a solemn opening from 10:00 to 18:00 on Saturday, February 8, at the Farmhouse Village: 397 S. Gilbert Road, Unit 140, Gilbert. The store will then be open on Wednesday until Sunday. Details: literallybookshop.com