From the newsletters of Always Here Bookstore in Portland, OR:
After letting our newsletter gather dust for 4 months, we’re back to announce that the pop-up at 3808 N Williams Ave that we share with Jelly Cup Collective will be closing at the end of the year […]
[&]
[…] we found the long-term home for Always Here Bookstore.
John and Rafael at the new storefront: 4555 N. Williams Ave. Portland, OR
Throughout this year, we’ve been searching for a place to settle the bookstore[…] and then, one day, a note appeared on our checkout counter.
I was at the store by myself that day, but it was slow. I started tidying up, and almost threw that little scrap of paper away. Since it was quiet, I figured — why not call?
We went to see the place for the first time two days later. Turns out, the owner had visited the store while we weren’t in and helped himself to a pen and paper. But 10 minutes into our conversation, we both knew: this was it. I remember us glancing at one another. It was obvious. We had been looking for most of a year for this.
We were ready to settle for second or third best. We had actually just gone to see a just-okay option — and were probably going to sign for it — 3 or 4 days prior. After 11 months of exhaustion and frustration and stress, a fine option was looking pretty damn good. But we’ve poured so much of ourselves, of our time and energy, so much of our lives and our love into Always Here Bookstore; settling for fine wasn’t feeling great.
That’s why standing in the space and talking to Don [the new landlord] was definitely one of those “sometimes life is like a movie” moments that will live on in our memories forever. I can still feel the way it sank in during that conversation.
— John & Rafael, Always Here Bookstore, Portland, OR
As part of the strategy for keeping the bookstore financially sustainable, we’re launching a membership program!
And as we launch our memberships, we’re going to be doing a fundraising drive! This is our GoFundMe, or our Kickstarter – except we have the option of folks to support by contributing money directly (just like GoFundMe), or by signing up for a membership that comes with some perks like a discount on books. Check it out here!
Sign up to give by Dec 31, 2024; they are almost halfway to their goal as of this post. Sharing the fundraiser is another great way to help.
