Shelby Biel says there is a simple reason why she started the Golden Hour Bookshop: “I love books; and I love literacy; and I love our community.”
In addition to having a personal passion for reading, she is the mother of a young child and wants to help others find their love of reading at a young age. So, it’s no wonder that at a recent pop-up shop for Independent Bookstore Day, she had the counters lined with large, brightly illustrated picture books.
Of course, there were also books for every age, from early readers to adults, and some other bookish items in between.
“I believe in the power of stories and their ability to grow and connect us,” Biel says. “And I love and believe in my Lowell community.” Now, after years of working in bookstores, she is thrilled to finally have a shop to call her own.
Pop-Ups for Now, Storefront in the Future
Golden Hour Bookshop gets its name from an album by Kacey Musgraves that Biel listened to on repeat when she was expecting her child.
“I feel like it has this Lake Michigan feel,” she explains. It represented the type of vibe she wanted for her business, and she adds that one nice aspect of independent bookstores is that each one is unique and has its own feel. Biel even went to Nera Wix to have a custom scented candle made to capture the essence of what she says is the Golden Hour Bookshop.
Right now, the bookshop is open for online sales and does pop-up events around town. For instance, Biel was at Milo’s Kid’s Consignment one day with children’s books, and then on Valentine’s Day, she set up shop at Nera Wix with a selection of romances.
The ultimate goal, though, is to have a permanent storefront so people won’t have to wait for a special event to shop at Golden Hour Bookshop in-person.
If you don’t think you’re a reader, Biel encourages you to not give up. “There’s a book out there for everyone,” she says. “You just haven’t found it yet.”
If you need help finding the book that will spark your love of reading, Biel and the Golden Hour Bookshop are standing by to help.
For more information, visit the Golden Hour Bookshop website or follow the store on Facebook.
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