Idaho independent bookstores build community with unique experiences

Today’s modern bookstores across the Gem State offer more than just books. In an era where online retail giants dominate, local independent bookstores are creating community through creativity and curated experiences — and reading enthusiasts are flocking to them.

At Meridian-based store Cooks & Books, Nick and Alicia Mattera wanted to think outside of the box. Opened in 2025, the business is a bookshop with a curated selection of books, and a cooking studio that offers cooking classes for all ages. Both are longtime entrepreneurs, and Alicia is a family and consumer sciences (home economics) teacher. Together, they knew they could open something special, so last summer Cooks & Books was born. Since October, Alicia has taught 116 classes.

“The locals have been very supportive and excited,” she explained. “It’s a great way for people to meet other people while they are cooking and talking. We are adding more events in the bookstore now for all ages to bring more people through the doors to see what we have to offer. I think we’ve gotten away from community things so having a location that people can come to interact and do things they enjoy is always needed.”

In Idaho Falls, Winnie & Mo’s Bookshop offers a wide variety of new books, stationery, tea and coffee. Whitney Holmes, co-owner of the store said that she and her business partner Amanda Poitevan dreamed of opening an independent bookstore while pushing their small children, Winston and Maureen, around parks in their strollers.

“These jaunts with our little ones came to be known as ‘Winnie & Mo’s Power Hour,’ and the name of our bookstore was born,” Holmes said. “As mothers and former teachers, we wanted to see more spaces in Idaho Falls that made reading and writing welcoming and fun, and where people of all ages could find and discover books, stationery and community.”

She shared that the idea to incorporate non-book merchandise, otherwise known as sidelines, into their inventory was a no-brainer.

“When people are looking for a gift, it helps to be a one-stop shop,” Holmes said. “People can get a card, a book and a pair of socks in one trip. Financially, sidelines have a higher margin. Where the margin for a book is somewhere between 40% to 46%, the margin for sidelines is usually 50% or more. … Customers and staff enjoy exploring the sidelines. … When people enter Winnie & Mo’s, they often beeline to some sticky notes we have that are shaped and wrapped like a cube of butter. They’re intrigued and entertained.”

And for Holmes and Poitevan, the ability to build community is beyond rewarding — and it’s not something that big box stores or online retailers can offer.

“While online chain retails offer convenience, independent bookstores differentiate themselves by functioning as community spaces,” Holmes said. “When customers come into Winnie & Mo’s, we want them to feel at home.”

When Tyann Bjorkman opened It’s a Love Story Books and Café in Hayden, she wanted to focus solely on providing romance-only reads. The store was founded after a major career and life shift, and she said she truly just wanted to bring a pocket of joy to the world.

“That was the whole goal,” Bjorkman explained. “But what has unfolded is so much greater than I ever imagined. Yes, there’s joy, but there’s also community, connection and real love that has grown here.”

She added that the store has been the location of first dates and more.

“We have book clubs that have become like ‘chosen family,’” she said. “My husband jokes that I’ve accidentally created a bookish version of “Cheers” and honestly, he’s not wrong. Our regulars walk in and we know them. We ask about their lives. We argue over tropes and recommend our favorite smutty reads. It’s become exactly the kind of place I always wished existed.”

And while independent bookstores are certainly having a moment, the idea of enjoying books in other space is also becoming popular. For example, Common Ground Coffee and Market welcomes a “silent book club” for people to sit and read a book of their own choosing in companionable silence or quietly chat about some of their latest favorite reads. This has been a unique way to create community around a common interest.

One thing is certain: Bookstores aren’t going anywhere. And as a testament to the popularity of these one-of-a-kind shops, a 2024 report from the American Booksellers Association stated that there are more than 2,800 independent bookstores with almost 3,300 locations across the country.

“Sometimes life is really hard, and books are a reprieve,” Bjorkman said. “That’s what this store is for so many of our customers. It’s a place to slow down, to be seen, to talk about something you love without apology.”

Holmes agreed saying, “Local bookshops are thriving against the odds. Supporting them recirculates more money into the local economy and infuses communities with personality and charm.”