Help Open a Bookstore in Downtown Fitchburg

Help us open the bookshop that Fitchburg deserves.

Bonfire Bookshop will be a welcoming, independent, locally-owned bookstore where community members will be able to find new books, secondhand, scholarly and rare books, stationary, prints and greeting cards, children's books and toys, school- and community-branded apparel, and a variety of gift and art items with an emphasis on locally-created works. By hosting programs such as the Fitchburg Language Arts Group and the Fitchburg Arts Market, Bonfire will be the site of literary and artistic creation and livelihood as well. And through partnerships with local institutions like the University, the Museum, Abolitionist Park, and the Cultural Council, we intend to be yet another source of support for our local creatives.

About Me

My professional life has long been centered around books. I have been involved in the publishing and book-trade industry for more than a decade, as an independent bookseller and operator of a small press, Pen & Anvil. At Boston University, I've coordinated publishing projects for students and faculty for nearly two decades, most recently as the coordinator of the BU BookLab. And I've facilitated many dozens of writing and reading groups throughout Massachusetts, leading workshops and seminars in grade school, community, collegiate, and prison settings. Across all of these projects, I have sought to support people as they seek out literature that tells their story, whether in the form of works which are already written, or through works they come to write themselves.

I remember coming into Fitchburg to visit The Rabbit Hole, and knew from first-hand experience how bright was the light that shined from their store windows over the upper common. How wonderful to find a place to browse books, buy music, and join the audience for live events! But they are closed; where do people go nowadays for their stories? I spent a few months researching the publishing and book-selling market for Fitchburg, and determined that we're located in something of a story-desert. There are a few recent signs of a turn toward better days for books in Central Mass -- for example, Bedlam Books in Worcester's resurgent Kelly Square, and that brand-new Little Bee Bookshop in Ayer -- but nothing really for book-lovers within Fitchburg city limits. I'm determined to hire a team, and work with city leaders, community advisors and other stakeholders to meet the need for a bookstore in our city. Fitchburg has such a long and rich history of arts, culture, education, and community... A city with such a heritage deserves a welcoming, independent bookshop -- a "third space" acting as a community gathering space, a studio or workshop for writers and book-makers, a literary hub, a marketplace for local creators.

A note about the team -- I am actively reviewing staff applications. Bonfire is going to hire 4-6 staff in coming months, as the business transitions from "me" to "we."

Why we think this is the right idea at the right time.

Over the past few months, Fitchburg has seen a dramatic increase in business development, as more and more citizens, investors, business owners, artists, and , institutions like FSU see opportunity and need in our community and have made the decision to commit to being a part of a new downtown for our city. The collective vision for this renewed downtown depends upon investment in arts, culture, and recreation. As a part of this city-wide movement, I believe that the people of Fitchburg and surrounding communities should have access to an immersive bookshop where they can browse for new stories and rediscover old favorites; where their imagination can be stirred; and where their curiosity can connect them to guest speakers, visiting authors, writing groups, book clubs, and other forms of literary community.

We envision a shop with tall shelves of used books, inviting searches; rooms with comfortable seating for reading and writing; a studio space for printing and publishing demonstrations and lessons; and a rotating inventory of "Fitchburg Arts Market" vendors, making use of our programmable interior floorplan as well as outdoor-ready carts. Every time a guest comes back to browse, they should expect to be surprised by new books on the shelf, new gifts for sale, and new items on display.

 

More about our business plans and timeline.

Bookstores aren’t poised to succeed on luck alone as shifts in consumer buying habits send them to Amazon and e-retailers. That’s why our business plan goes beyond in-person book-sales to diversify our revenue stream, using a multipronged to achieve long-term financial stability. Complementing our bricks-and-mortar sales will be an extensive online catalog of vintage, rare, and specialist books (with special emphasis on non-English literatures, equestrian and other outdoor recreation, nature and natural history, and local history and authors). Ticketed events -- with free community ticket set-asides -- will also help us achieve sustainability, as will the revenue from our services, ranging from book-finding for specialist collectors; consulting for collegiate and scholarly publishing; and custom publication for independent authors. We think our business model is uniquely poised to take advantage of new publishing and remote-work technologies, and is driven by a vision that is forward-thinking and reflective of new realities of both Fitchburg and the world.

Our total cost breakdown is as follows:

• Bookshelves: $15,000
• Lease support for 12 months: $1,200 x 12 = $14,400
• Utilities support x 12 months: $500 x 12 = $6,000
• Build-out costs: $25,000
• Place-making and wayfinding: $5,000
• Retail and vendor furniture: $8,000
• Operating expenses: $10,000
• Total: $83,400

(Note that BOOKSHELVES are our first and foremost thought! We are a bookshop before all else.)

$83k is a large figure, but that is for development of the full space, a total of appx. 3,000 square feet. We are seeking additional funding sources to help us meet our additional needs for the full project, including a Mainvest campaign, foundation funding, and state and city grants.

For Phase 1, our soft opening involving ~1,000 square feet, our GoFundMe would be used as follows:

• Bookshelves: $10,000
• Rent support for 6 months: $1,200 x 6 = $7,200
• Utilities support x 12 months: $500 x 6 = $3,000
• Build-out costs: $10,000
• Place-making and wayfinding: $1,000
• Retail and vendor furniture: $1,000
• Operating expenses: $2,800
• Total: $35,000

And that's where our $35k figure comes from. Our costs may vary as we continue to look for ways to be resourceful and make the most out of local opportunities, but we believe that sound investment at the start of this project will give us the best hope of a long life for your new community bookstore.

Stay tuned to our Facebook and Instagram feeds for photos of the build-out process, and of our inventory as we continue to bring books and other items onto the site. We'd love for you to stay informed about our progress. And of course, thank you for all of your non-financial expressions of support via encouragement, sharing the news, and direct aid. So many people in Fitchburg have already shown up to go over paperwork, to roll up their sleeves and lug boxes of books around, and in other ways lend their good will and work to making this bookstore a reality.

Regardless of the outcome of this GoFundMe campaign, this project is definitely moving forward, with fair wages, local ownership, and ample community input. This fundraiser is an opportunity to launch the bookstore as a better experience for everyone involved and so that we can more quickly and sustainably come to serve our mission of connecting community members to new goods and services in the arts and culture space.

In closing...

A bonfire is inviting, nostalgic, mesmerizing... a bookshop should be the same. Let's create a space where people can gather and find warmth and fellowship as they share their stories, just the way people sit around a bonfire. I hope you'll support us in the opening of Bonfire Bookshop. When you donate to this project, you are investing in a future for Fitchburg which is ever more rooted in community, culture, arts, and innovation.