Downtown Elk River bookstore to open

by Jim Boyle

Editor

Sarah Russell’s dream of opening a bookstore in downtown Elk River is becoming a reality.

Well Read’s grand opening will be from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday, April 27 at 310 Jackson Ave. next to Allison’s Addicts, a clothing boutique that opened earlier this month. (See story on page 10.) The opening falls on Independent Bookstore Day, the last Saturday of April.

Russell’s idea germinated in the last few years after she and her husband Devin moved to Elk River about five years ago. She has been a stay-at-home mom of a 6-year-old daughter and a soon-to-be 5-year-old son. The Russells also have a 21-year-old daughter.

The family has grown accustomed to making trips downtown, especially on Thursdays in the summer for the farmers market, she said.

“We love all the shops down here and the fact that we get to know the store owners,” Russell said from her storefront this past week. “We really love the farmers market. It’s such a nice place to spend time. You don’t get that same feel growing up in the cities as you do here (in Elk River).”

The Russells grew up in the Burnsville-Apple Valley area. The two of them lived in Rogers for a couple of years before moving to Elk River.

The bookstore is her first foray into owning and running a bookstore. She previously sold vintage antique items she would pick up at auctions and estate sales.

“It was fun,” she said.

“And really interesting. We saw a lot of interesting things come through and met a lot of interesting people.”

Opening a bookstore will tap into her lifelong love of reading.

“I have always been a book lover,” she said. “Elk River has such a cute downtown, but I always felt it was missing a bookstore.”

Well Read will offer a mix of new and used books, including bestsellers and the option of placing special orders. She has been collecting gently used books in the build up to the opening in exchange for a “Thank You” coupon. Down the road, she said, she will probably come up with a buyback program.

The space they are in was formerly used by a mortgage broker. Sarah and Devin have put in new flooring, painted the walls, installed bookshelves and furniture. Devin is an engineer, so the store will be Sarah’s baby.

“I want this place to be somewhere people feel a sense of community and bond over books and ideas,” she said.

The plan is to host author events, children’s story times on Saturday mornings, book clubs, writers’ workshops and other community-style classes and events.

Ben Miller, the author of “Three Pirate Pigs,” will be there at 10:30 a.m. for the grand opening to read to children in the children’s book section.

In addition to authors, the owner hopes in the future to tap professions (like fire service) and organizations (like a local dog rescue operation) and others.

“I want to involve everyone, really,” she said.

The hours of operation have not been set yet but will generally be from Thursday through Sunday.

“I think (e-books) are just adding to the interest in books,” Sarah said. “I think reading on your own is growing and the market changes are just adding to it.

“I don’t think books will ever be obsolete. There’s definitely a different feeling with holding a book in your hands versus a phone or tablet.”

Sarah said she will even be testing out Silent Book Clubs, which give people who like to read a chance to gather for reading time and a chance to discuss books with others who like to read.

“People will be able to come over, bring a book they’re reading and after 45 minutes of reading they can share what they’re reading,” she said. “It’s a nice way to find time to read and also find out about books you wouldn’t have thought about reading before. It’s pretty popular. I think it’s an excellent idea. There’s no pressure to finish by Tuesday.”