A Grand Opening for Clear Creek Books

With very little retail experience, and no bookselling experience, Craig Morgan opened Clear Creek Books in Golden, Colorado, on December 6. Although he was armed with knowledge from a Paz & Associates new booksellers workshop, opening a few weeks before Christmas was pure baptism by fire. "It was insane," Morgan said. "We were constantly stuffing more books back on the shelves."

But it was a good insane, he acknowledged, with customers streaming into the store throughout the holidays. "The community has been incredible. Every third person says, 'We're so glad you're here.'" Morgan said the appreciation was fueled by downtown Golden's decade-long bookstore drought. Founded during the gold rush of 1859, Golden is an "odd, old, quaint little city" with a combination of older left- and right-wingers. But most, he added, agree on the value of shopping local.

The 2,000-square-foot store sits on a busy Main Street-corner in a historic 1874 building. Clear Creek Books stocks both used and new titles, with an extensive collection of signed new first editions by Geraldine Brooks, Paul Theroux, Russell Banks, Jim Harrison, and more.

Some of the used titles came right out of Morgan's home collection. When asked if he was reluctant to see some of his books go, Morgan quickly replied, "Are you kidding? I want to follow people home and take them back."

Clear Creek Books features extensive children's and local sections. "We've got tons of local authors in Golden," he said. "We're carrying all their books."

The store serves as a community event space for various clubs, including a knitting group and "The Fortnighters," a 120-year-old book club that Morgan described as the longest continuously run book club in the country. Clear Creek has been selling Book Sense gift cards from day one, and Morgan reported that he sold 30 within the first month.

On Wednesday, January 30, Morgan held a full-scale grand opening for Clear Creek Books. The Golden Chamber of Commerce, as well as neighbors and customers, were invited to the ribbon-cutting ceremony. "It's a chance for other merchants and customers to come in, drink my wine, and eat my food," said Morgan.

As for the future, plans include the addition of "more books and more events," he said. "And we're working with the local cultural alliance. We're really into community involvement." --Karen Schechner