Milkweed Books to Celebrate Grand Opening September 20

Milkweed Books, a nonprofit bookstore owned and operated by independent publisher Milkweed Editions, is nearly ready for its debut at Open Book, the nonprofit literary arts center in Minneapolis. A soft opening is planned for the start of September, with an official grand opening celebration to take place on September 20.

The three-story Open Book building, which was constructed in 2000, houses Milkweed Edition’s offices, the Loft Literary Center, and the Minnesota Center for Book Arts, as well as a café. “We’re just one piece of the book puzzle here,” said Hans Weyandt, who will serve as the manager for Milkweed Books.

The bookstore’s 600-square-foot space was once home to a branch of Hungry Mind bookstore, where Weyandt worked before he became co-owner of St. Paul’s Micawber’s Books. After Hungry Mind closed at Open Book, other tenants, such as an art gallery and a technology group, filled the space.

These tenants, however, never quite fit into the building or its original mission, said Weyandt. “People always ask, why isn’t there a bookstore here? It’s a logical question.”

At Milkweed Books, customers will find books from Milkweed Editions alongside titles from a variety of other publishers. “The focus is going to be independent literature,” said Weyandt, adding that inventory “is going to be a mix of current fiction, nonfiction, poetry, cookbooks, travel writing, and picture books for kids.”

Quality titles from non-independent publishers won’t be excluded, however. “One example is the Colson Whitehead book, The Underground Railroad,” Weyandt said, referring to the book published by Doubleday, part of Penguin Random House. “We’re going sell that book.”

Milkweed Books’ goal will be to shine a light on books that aren’t necessarily being displayed, reviewed, or talked about to the extent that they should be. “It’s definitely going to be something we’ll learn as we go, from the neighborhood and from what people want,” said Weyandt. “I want [Milkweed Books] to be a neighborhood resource and something people feel comfortable coming into, but I also want to push people’s boundaries beyond what they’re used to reading and seeing in a bookstore.”

Weyandt will be joined at Milkweed Books by several Milkweed Editions staffers who will divide their time between their publishing duties and cycling through various roles in the bookstore. A few additional store staffers will be hired by Weyandt.

Working with the publishing staff has been enlightening, said Weyandt. “There have already been things that I learned from them, and that they learned from me, that we never would have known. It’s been really informative,” he explained. “I think it’s going to help me and the bookstore and the people who are working here to be more well-rounded as far as what we know about the book industry.”

The downtown area where Open Book is located has changed tremendously over the years, noted Weyandt, as theater and arts have become more prominent, along with restaurants and condos. Because the bookstore is located within the Open Book, there is plenty of space for events that will cater to this audience.

“We’re lucky to be in this building that has been here for 16 years and has always had the same mission. It has always been a book-centric place,” he said.

The bookstore’s grand opening celebration on September 20 will feature Milkweed author Deni Ellis Béchard, who will read from his upcoming novel, Into the Sun, as well as a poetry sommelier, who will provide book recommendations based on what people enjoy. Visitors will be able to take home tote bags, broadsides from the Minnesota Center for Book Arts, and other book ephemera. All three levels of the building will be open for guests to explore.

“Anyone who comes to that event is going to be able to leave with something, whether they buy something or not,” said Weyandt. “I just want people to come here and have a good time.”

Weyandt is also looking forward to hosting droves of indie booksellers at the Winter Institute 12 opening reception, which will be held at the Open Book on Friday, January 27, 2017. “We are going to have an amazing party,” he said.

To boost the nonprofit store’s success in its first months, Milkweed Editions recently launched a Kickstarter campaign to raise $25,000. “Investing in Milkweed Books with your dollars today will allow us to stretch farther, experiment with more creative models for bookselling, host more public events, and invest in the work of more independent presses and literary authors,” Milkweed said on Kickstarter. “Ultimately, your gift will allow us to champion talented writers, engaging books, and curious readers to help ensure a world filled with wonderfully diverse bookshelves.”