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SALT LAKE CITY — King's English Bookshop's outside exterior is much like the adage 'don't judge a book by its cover.'
The blue house with a sloped roof and white trimmed windows may seem quaint, but the winding hallways inside are just as easy to get lost in as the books that line them.
The building, at 1511 S. 1500 East in Salt Lake City, has shifted throughout the years, ranging anywhere from a beauty salon to a pharmacy. Then in 1977, a group of women attempting to write the great American novel purchased the house, which slowly became a bookstore through the addition of a coffee pot, a bell on the door and eventually books for sale.
"Selling books is a noble pursuit in my mind. This is a way that people gain education. They gain insight, they gain new perspectives that they would not have had," said Rob Eckman, the bookstore's marketing manager. "I think that bookselling is is is a very old and respectable business."
Slowly the little blue house grew and merged with buildings around it, an old gas station and a record store. The winding hallways and original brick from buildings before connected — telling a history of the community it served.
"We hear so often how it is just what an old funky bookstore should be. Rooms and its little stairs and little alcoves and nooks and crannies, all just packed with books," said Eckman. "We're known for having this magnificent mystery room which is one of the best in the whole Intermountain West and our kids room is also one of the best and most carefully curated."
Much like the trappings of an old mystery novel with hidden rooms and revolving doors, the mystery room connects to the restaurant next door. Inside the children's reading room is a tree growing to the ceiling with a treehouse nestled inside made of wood collected by Eckman, beneath the fake foliage is the bookstore's beloved Bernese Mountain Dog.
To Eckman, the uniqueness and careful curation of independent bookstores are among the best things about them.
"Regionally, we like to emphasize Western history and things that really matter to our local community, which is what makes independent bookstores so special," he said. "The curation is very careful and we do it very much by hand. We have a couple of book buyers who are very careful to comb through what's coming out and by whom."
Among the careful curation is an acknowledgment of local authors, a way of embracing the community. The curation also serves as an extension of democracy, said Eckman.
"Bookstores are known as a place where you can go to find anything that you want to read. We believe that banned books make great books and so come and pick up a banned book," he said. "People look to independent bookstores as a community place not just because of the books but because of the freedom of speech."
The exchanging of ideas and stories is ingrained into society, but Eckman recalled moments in more recent times. He told the story of the King's English Bookstore which remained open on 9/11, as the World Trade Center fell. As the world looked on in horror, some members of the community gathered in the winding halls of the bookstore.
"People needed us, people needed a place. It still gives me chills just to think about," said Eckman. "People needed a place to go and people needed a place to talk."
The relationship between bookstore and community is reciprocal, said Eckman. As much as the community has needed bookstores, the bookstores need the community especially as large corporations expand.
"The convenience that's there really needs to be outweighed by the community gravity and the community glue that is provided by mom and pop shops," said Eckman. "We don't believe that that convenience outweighs the importance of local business people. These are the people whose fabric of the neighborhoods, mom and pop stores, places that are unique that you're not going to find in big boxes."
Every dollar spent locally is an investment into the community that houses the business, he added.
For every dollar spent in a locally owned business, $.55 stays in the community — four times more money than if that same dollar was spent at a national retailer, according to Local First.
In an effort to highlight the importance of independent bookstores and celebrate the local community, bookstores like Kings English Bookshop across the state will be holding events. To see upcoming events visit your local bookstore's website.
