co-op

Earlier this week, I wrote that a necessary ingredient for a successful bookstore is community support.  The Park Hill Community Bookstore operates as a non-profit, officially and intentionally.  It is all about community.  Last fall’s newsletter described the store as a sturdy three legged stool.  The three legs of support:

1. Membership:  The store offers membership levels from $10 to $40.  Members receive a 7.72% discount, additional discounts during Christmas and sales, 10 used book credits (good for 10 used paperbacks or 5 used hardbacks) and a newsletter.
2. Donated Used Books:  members and non-members alike receive credit for donating and exchanging books.
3. Volunteers:  There is one paid employee, the manager, but otherwise the store is completely run by volunteers.  Volunteers sign up for at least one four hour shift a month.  Some volunteers have worked there for over 20 years.  If I lived in Park Hill, I’d volunteer in a flash!

Park Hill Community Bookstore is on a quaint street in a lovely neighborhood.  Park Hill is a suburb of Denver that looks like it came out of a Frank Lloyd Wright drawing book.  I wanted to stay for hours as soon as I drove up.  The store itself is as cozy as the neighborhood.

Park Hill Community Bookstore is two stories.  The bottom floor houses a small selection of new books, calendars,  and used fiction and children’s books.  Upstairs is a large room with rows of shelves of  mysteries, espionage, romance, and a variety of non-fiction genres.  At the bottom of the stairs was a bookcase full of plays; I wish I had hours to go through those shelves!

If you’re in the area, stop by, the volunteers are friendly and eager to chat with locals and visitors.

Park Hill Community Bookstore

4620 E. 23rd Ave.

Denver, CO 80207