The very first thing you discover strolling into West Facet Books is the scent. It’s scent. It’s the scent of older books, stirring up reminiscences of coming into a small-town library the place the pinnacle librarian knew your identify and what you favored to learn.
Clients of West Facet Books in Denver’s Highland neighborhood know that feeling. Longtime guests to the shop at 3434 W. thirty second Ave. discuss proprietor Lois Harvey and the employees as pals who’re able to advocate new titles and information them by means of the overflowing cabinets of latest and previous books that one particular person likened to a treasure hunt. The shop additionally sells uncommon books.
The yellow arrows on the ground pointing the way in which to the exit are helpful.
“I go searching and I’m going, ‘Oh, there’s a guide I didn’t notice that I wanted,’ ” mentioned Michael Hester, who lives one block west of the shop.
“It’s been my house bookstore for years,” mentioned Jody Georgeson, who lives farther north. “Lois is at all times more than pleased to speak about what we’ve been studying and what we like and what we didn’t. It seems like house.”
However the future is unsure for the bookstore that has been a mainstay in a neighborhood that has modified considerably in recent times. Harvey, 72, plans to retire on Jan. 1. She began working in bookstores in Denver within the late Seventies and opened Capitol Hill Books on Colfax Avenue in January 1980. She offered it in 1995.
Matt Aragon-Shafi, the supervisor, desires to hold on Harvey’s work. The 36-year-old has been a fan of West Facet Books since shopping its cabinets when he attended close by North Excessive College. He has labored on the retailer for eight years.
“He’s the inheritor. He will get to take it and run,” Harvey mentioned as she and Aragon-Shafi sat in somewhat nook on the entrance of the shop. “Matt confirmed curiosity, enthusiasm, means, intelligence and the power to work arduous. He’s very robust. He has a supportive husband.”
Harvey and her employees constructed up the web providers to maintain going throughout the top of the coronavirus pandemic when folks stayed out of most shops. Clients can now roam by means of the slender aisles to search for books or organize them on-line. Aragon-Shafi has helped enhance the shop’s social media presence.
Harvey, nonetheless, acknowledged that maintaining the doorways open will seemingly imply downsizing and would possibly require promoting off elements of the enterprise, such because the used-book assortment. West Facet Books’ lease lately greater than doubled.
“Landlords can get Cherry Creek rents now, or property taxes are such that landlords should push these limits due to what their prices are,” Harvey mentioned. “If it weren’t for an nameless donor, we wouldn’t even be capable of say we may very well be right here by means of the top of the 12 months. That’s huge. Should you’re in retail and also you don’t have these final 4 months of the 12 months, you’ve simply misplaced some huge cash.”
The constructing’s house owners have mentioned they need West Facet Books to remain, but in addition have plans to develop the property, Harvey mentioned. What portion of the present 3,200-square-foot house can be accessible for the shop is unclear. A restaurant sits on a part of the property.
Harvey mentioned Aragon-Shafi faces the problem of determining “tips on how to preserve it collectively.”
“He’s sensible, he’s good. He’ll determine it out,” she added.
Is Aragon-Shafi prepared for the problem? “I’m as prepared as I may be,” he mentioned.
A neighborhood mainstay
Aragon-Shafi, who began in retail when he was 18, mentioned he’s discovered so much concerning the guide enterprise from Harvey. He has discovered to be extra reflective, to assume earlier than appearing and to succeed in out when he wants one thing.
And he’s discovered about referring to clients in what is commonly a extra shut relationship than in different retail companies. He’s optimistic about having the ability to keep within the retailer’s longtime house.
“We might should downsize, curtail our stock, see what the neighborhood desires of us,” Aragon-Shafi mentioned.
West Facet Books first opened in 1997 in a distinct spot on West thirty second Avenue. Harvey and her brother, Jim Harvey, ran West Facet Books & Curios collectively till transferring to the present location in 1999. Her brother, who grew to become a silent companion, owned the constructing, as soon as a automobile transmission store, till 2022.
The shop, with its purple, salmon and yellow exterior, has been an anchor “for our little business space right here,” Hester mentioned. “Lois brings in authors to talk about their books. She has occasional conferences of group teams there. She hosts numerous occasions that actually convey folks in.”
Hester has volunteered to assist with the sound system for a number of the occasions. He additionally contributes to the within decor that features posters, footage and sculptures. He donated an acoustic guitar that was hung within the music part.
The world has modified dramatically since Hester moved to Highland in 1989. He recalled listening to gunfire at occasions. There was a meth lab working within the neighborhood.
“Now, after all, it’s completely gentrified. The home subsequent door to me offered two years in the past for $1.2 million,” Hester mentioned.
Shedding West Facet Books is one change that Georgeson doesn’t need to see within the space. “In fact that’s at all times a priority. I feel that they’ve sufficient help that perhaps the neighborhood received’t let that occur.”
Georgeson mentioned that having impartial guide shops is a key to sustaining an informed public.
“If you get the large monopolies, all you get are the very best sellers. You don’t get a well-rounded physique of issues to flick thru and take into account,” Georgeson mentioned. “I feel it’s additionally vital as a gathering place for a neighborhood, a spot folks go to really feel that sense of a group.”
When she retires, Harvey mentioned she’ll nonetheless attempt to assist Aragon-Shafi with no matter he wants. She additionally plans to spend time along with her husband’s grandchildren and her daughter and her daughter’s cats.
Harvey, who grew up in New Mexico, figured she would pursue a medical profession. Her mom was a nurse and her finest buddy was going to medical faculty. Then she received the bug for the guide enterprise. She began relationship a person who had a small guide and comics retailer on Colfax Avenue.
“I cherished the books. I cherished the variability. I cherished having an opportunity to train my curiosity and to assist folks discover issues to train their curiosity,” Harvey mentioned. “I feel curiosity is basically considered one of our greatest options as human beings.”