The new “Woman’s Bookshop” in Marda Loop got off to a rocking start this past Saturday, February 25th with their grand opening!
When “A Woman’s Place Bookstore” unexpectedly closed its doors in September of 2005, Jean Roberts, like most of the people who had frequented the shop over the years, was upset and bewildered. “I have shopped here for years and years and hated the thought of it gone! When I found out it had been closed, I sort of made it my personal project to find a way to reopen it.”
An entrepreneur at heart, and armed with a background in graphic arts and business management, Jean had found herself at an unexpected crossroads in her life. Off of work for a year due to a work-related injury, and ultimately wondering what to do with herself, she felt this was her opportunity. “I was nearing retirement and realized I wanted to give back to the community a bit. It felt almost as if the Universe had placed this all at my feet at the right time.”
Ultimately, it took Jean a few months to get herself and the store organized. But with the help of key staff and friends to help keep her sane, the shop was soon back in business.
“I have received a ton of positive input and feedback from people in the community. To this day, people are coming in and saying ‘this is so great, I’m so glad you did this!’” Jean exclaims, “Nothing but positive responses thus far. It takes some time to get the word out that we’re back open and for people to realize it is basically the same kind of bookstore, just the name has changed.”
In a lot of ways, the Bookshop is still the same place it used to be. Jean is adamant that the shop still possess the same feel and offer the same items as before. The Bookshop therefore still features commissioned pieces like art, gifts, hand crafted glass and silver jewellery and leather goods.
As well, the Bookshop still features a central place for Alcoholics Anonymous materials and literature. I was also very happy to hear that “Community Corner’ is still available – a bulletin board and area to promote community notices, holistic and herbal medicine, workshops, courses, seminars and other resources of interest to women.
Jean is quick to point out that while the name reflects the store as a place for women, as it always has been, it’s certainly not meant to be exclusive. “Our books offer a wide variety of topics which would also be of interest to men,” she says.
For the GLBT community in particular, there is still a wide variety of gay themed literature and the fun rainbow stuff, too: Pride jewellery, stickers, flags, candles and other paraphernalia abound.
Jean wants to ensure that people know she’s always open to, and on the lookout for great ideas for events she can hold in the bookshop; she knows that community is the cornerstone to the great service the Women’s Bookshop has always provided in its previous incarnations. She is enthusiastic about some of the upcoming book signings the Bookshop will be holding to promote some of the items in the self-help section, as well as some visits from lesbian authors scheduled to coincide with Pride Week.
The new Woman’s Bookshop is truly not just a bookshop… and not just for women. Jean and her staff invite you to “Come on down, look around… and have a free coffee on us!”
The Woman’s Bookshop
Books, Gifts, and Art
In Marda Loop, 2030-34 Avenue SW
Ph: (403) 240-3210
Hours:
Tues/Wed/Sat: 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Thurs/Fri: 10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
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Nico Hofferd lives with her wife and six fur kids in a community near you. She is here to inject some Feminine-ity to Gay Calgary magazine. (But not ’inject’ in the patriarchal sense - unless you ask her nicely.) You can email Nico at nicoh@gaycalgary.com.
