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