Help Restore Viva Books After Fire Damage

Dear Friends, Readers, and Book Lovers,

I’m Viva Stowell, the proud owner of Viva Books, a new and used bookstore located in the heart of downtown Baltimore. We opened our doors during the pandemic in the beautifully renovated Brown’s Arcade, filled with hope and excitement to share our love of literature with the community. Unfortunately, last night, our store was struck by an unexpected disaster.

A manhole cover across the street exploded into the air, triggering an electrical fire that spread into the basement below Viva Books. The front windows were shattered, and an 11x14 hole now scars the front of our store, exposing the basement. Worse still, the fire department had to douse the flames, leaving our store waterlogged and many of our books potentially unsellable. Our future feels uncertain, but we are determined to rebuild.

This is not the first bookstore I’ve had the privilege of running. I’ve spent years working in bookstores across the country, including Tower Books in New York City. My late husband, Edward Bell, a veteran bookseller, and I opened a bookstore together in Moscow, Idaho. Viva Books represents the culmination of a lifetime of passion for books, a dream I’m not ready to give up on.

While the damage is severe, I am reaching out for help to restore Viva Books. The funds raised will go directly toward:

Replacing broken windows and repairing the store’s structure and finishes.

Salvaging and restocking damaged books.

Covering lost income during our temporary closure.

I know the value a bookstore brings to a community, and I believe in the power of books to connect and inspire us. With your help, I can restore Viva Books and continue serving the readers and community I care so deeply about. No donation is too small, and even sharing this campaign would mean the world to us.

Thank you for taking the time to read our story. Your generosity, in any form, will help bring our beloved bookstore back to life.

With gratitude,

Viva Stowell

Viva Books