Capitol Hill’s Nook & Cranny Books has lost its lease and is raising funds to help it find a new home.
“Nook & Cranny needs your help getting over this hurdle,” owner Maren Comendant writes. “We are pursuing small business loans for the long-term, but your support will help cover the upfront costs of a significant move: deposit and increased rent, additional shelving and furniture, and rebuilding inventory.”
Comendant says Nook & Cranny learned in November its landlord won’t be renewing its 15th Ave E lease. There is no word about what is planned next for the small retail shop space.
Comendant created Nook & Cranny in the summer of 2022. What if you read about a Capitol Hill bookstore for sale — and bought it? Comendant can tell you. She purchased the business after reading about the Oh Hello Again going up for sale on CHS.
Comendant, who was still working as a catering chef as she jumped into the world of literary retail, said her original dream was a cafe where she hoped to mix her love of the written word with food and drink. But, after seeing the article on CHS about the book shop up for sale and jumping in, she jumped in.
Now Comendant is working on plan for what comes next. The massive challenge is balanced somewhat by the opportunity.
“Our current home is only 320 square feet and just look at what we’ve been able to accomplish in that limited space. More room means we can offer seating to visitors who want to hang out and chat during the day! More room means we can host bigger and better events, more display space for our artists, even pop-ups with other local businesses and artisans! More room means storage,” she writes. “And best of all, more room means more amazing books!”
The hope is to raise enough from supporters to help the shop through the coming months as the search for the new home continues.
You can read more about the campaign and give here.
In the meantime, Nook & Cranny books is located at 324 15th Ave E. Learn more at nookandcrannybooks.com.
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One of the spaces in the Kaiser building would be a great fit, if Kaiser had not decided that it’s fine with those spaces remaining vacant.