Denver, Colorado
Established 1997

What’s your Store History, in a nutshell?

We established our broad spectrum used and new bookstore in Denver’s Highlands Historic District before the area was hot!. Owner Lois Harvey had 20 years of history in the book biz before opening West Side with her brother Jim. 23 years later, we are part of a lively commercial area, still with a neighborly feel.

What’s your claim to fame?

Wide and wonderful selection of books, well curated. Wide and wonderful customer base. Well read and diverse staff. And in a nutshell, friendly knowledgeable people work here, shop here and meet here.

What’s a memorable customer experience?

Selling books to ADULT customers who had come in in strollers as children. Also, oldsters who come in and look around and say… “I had my car fixed here 30 years ago.” ( we are housed in a converted garage/transmission shop! )

Denver, Colorado
Established 1971

What’s your Store History, in a nutshell?

Tattered Cover Book Store has brought people and books together since 1971. Tattered Cover is the largest independent bookstore and cafe in Colorado and our customers love that we can still maintain the cozy feel and comfort of smaller bookshops. With four locations in and around Denver, and a fifth location opening in Westminster, Colorado in June 2021, we maintain an inventory of over half a million books and pride ourselves on offering a diverse selection of new and used books as well as unique gifts. Prominent author book signings make up just a portion of the 500+ events Tattered Cover hosts each year. We are a Denver institution, a community gathering place, and an experience you can’t download!

What’s your claim to fame?

Largest independent bookstore in Colorado celebrating our 50th anniversary in 2021!

What’s a memorable customer experience?

In 2018, Michelle Obama was promoting her book, “Becoming” in our store and towards the end of the event a little 8-year old girl came up to her jumping up and down and screaming “this is so exciting, this is so exciting!” Michelle Obama let the little girl come around the signing desk and give her a hug and you could just SEE that this little girls life was made in that second! The video of this has been shared all over the internet over the years but it’s still one of those moments that absolutely melts your heart and makes us feel so thankful to be able to do what we do and create such memorable experiences for our customers-no matter the age!

Boulder, Colorado
Established 1973

What’s your Store History, in a nutshell?

Boulder Book Store was founded in 1973 by owner David Bolduc. Originally located at 1133 Pearl St. (the current location of Athleta), the back 1/3 of the main floor of the building was a Mexican import store, the basement was a plant store, and the upstairs were offices. The store began with only 10 bookcases and 5 employees. Now, the Boulder Book Store employs about 50 people and occupies 20,000 sq. feet, with more than 100,000 titles and three floors.

The building that Boulder Book Store occupies was built in 1899 and was called the Cheney Block (renamed the Buckingham Block in 1905, as the stone at the top of the building reads). When the current building was remodeled for the bookstore in 1991, David hired a feng shui consultant to design where such things as the front entrance, the safe, the business office, etc. ought to be located. During the remodeling, David made all efforts to use the most energy-efficient lighting, heating, windows, and building materials (including a tin ceiling on the main floor to replicate the historic style while saving energy).

What’s your claim to fame?

Boulder Book Store has been named “Bookstore of the Year ” by Publishers Weekly in 2018, and “Best of Boulder” by local papers every year since 1987. As a founding member of the Boulder Independent Business Alliance (one of the first of its kind in the country), David Bolduc, owner of the Boulder Book Store, has been at the forefront of the “shop local” movement for over two decades.

What’s a memorable customer experience?

I’ve shopped at the Boulder Bookstore for years, and find it one of the best experiences. The staff know their books, and support local writers, read books and make the whole cozy book buying an adventure. No matter what I am looking for, I can always find it there. They even buy and sell used books, a big find for people like me who love to browse, feel, and touch real books. They are accommodating, have gift cards, and for me- everyone I know is aware that is one of my favorite gifts. The store is crammed, labeled books everywhere, maps, travel – you name it – as an active bookstore should be. I can find Spanish-books for kids, also in a cozy section of that store — the store goes on for room after room in a quirky, pleasing way. They are accommodating to covid, and clean, with pick up too. I love this store- can you tell?   ~Judith L. from Westminster, CO on Yelp on 12/6/2020