Out West Books (Grand Junction, CO)

I visited Out West Books in Grand Junction this, as part of my goal to visit at least

12 independent bookstores in 12 months this year.

I stole the idea from someone on Threads and I think it's geniuus for several reasons.

First, because I like to buy books. They are good for my brain and my spirit and they keep my creative juices going -- i've written about that before.

Second, because I want to keep my shopping as local as possible and support small businesses, which at this moment in American history is a truly political act.

Third, because I've always wanted to run two kinds of businesses, a barn and a bookstore. I'm office managing a barn for a friend, so that box is mostly checked off right now, but I really am still itching deep down to someday own a bookstore so I like to see how different places do their thing.

I had a flight out of Junction this week and I needed a book for the flight so I headed over to Out West Books on the way to the airport.

Out West is an absolute shoebox of a store that one can really only describe as adorable. Seriously, it's really cute. They mostly seem to carry what we used to call “chick lit” or beach reads on the shelves, lots of pastel covers, but I did find the Shteyngart's latest novel on the New Fiction shelf, and Peter Heller, whose work I really love, on their Western Themes shelf, so I grabbed Dog Stars, too.

As you can see, they also stock cute greeting cards (I am trying to get better about sending birthday cards), and they have a loyalty program, which I was happy to join as I travel through Junction at least half a dozen times a year on my way to and from my happy place.

Oh and it’s just a few steps from Taco Party and around the corner from Bin 707 (the absolute best restaurants in Junction) plus there are decent bagels in the neighborhood, too. So you can buy a book and go have a great reading lunch. I know I'll be doing that every time I travel through Grand Junction from now on!