Little Acorns Bookstore has quickly become a jewel in the crown of Derry's independent business scene.
Its Foyle Street venue became incredibly popular and many customers were surprised when owner Jenni Doherty decided to move premises to Great James Street.
However, after moving 60,000 books and 150 typewriters, the new, partially opened venue already feels like it was always meant to be.
Read more: Derry mum's pride after autistic child recovers from losing all her hair and refusing to leave home
Owner Jenni Doherty took time out in running Little Acorns, while also working to complete the unfinished rooms, to speak to MyDerry about this new, and hopefully final, location.
Jenni said: "My very first job in Derry was with the Guildhall Press and was in Great James Street. My first pop-up book shop was across the street in the Glassworks. It is as if I've come full circle.
"I have pieces of furniture here from different churches across the city and from bookstores that I worked in that no longer exist, like Bookworm. They have memories and stories attached to them.
"I do feel I have arrived home and coming here was always meant to be."
Little Acorns Bookstore will eventually become six rooms over two floors. For now, two rooms on the ground floor are open, filled with books and local artwork.
Jenni said: "The kids section, I am so glad it is finished. It is all inclusive, I wanted a place for families to come. I want to be more than retail space.
"This is a safe space and welcoming, you can have a grandparent come in and sit while kids have a look at the books, parents can read to their kids in there, if women need a space to breastfeed their baby we can accommodate that.
"I am now in a position to do events, readings, and signings. I have already had some events and they have been so successful."
Jenni has praised the other independent book retailers for their support, as well as local businesses across the board within the city.
She said: "We all as independent book sellers get on so well, we are in it together. For us it is important as independent businesses to support each other and keep each other’s morale up.
"Local business owners give each other encouragement and it is tough, Stormont not being up and rates increasing is not helping. We are all going through it but we all support each other. If I wanted to lie in one morning you can guarantee someone would spot me and I would not get away with it!
"It is what keeps us going, knowing that we are doing it ourselves and supporting each other along the way. People have been amazing during the move, especially with the typewriters move. Translink let me borrow a bus and a driver to transport 85 typewriters and so many people came to help move them from Foyle Street to here."
While Jenni will miss her Foyle Street shop, the location that allowed her to put her own stamp on the independent business scene, it is clear that her new location in Great James Street felt like it was always meant to be.
She said: "I loved Foyle Street, it was a brilliant location with amazing neighbours. More people were reading after coronavirus and I had to adapt to covid times as well. Every time I move I build something on top of the business, you have to constantly adapt with the times.
"Foyle Street was such a blessing, I was forced to learn things very quickly. I do think in this new location this is a bit of a risk, sometimes I think 'am I mad?' But I know it will work because I have the people behind me.
"I am set up to succeed with the support I have. Derry and the North West is such a supportive area and they want to see people do well. Being in a new location has helped shape what I want to do, to tie in with neighbouring businesses.
"This is not just a pop in, quick in and out shop, it is somewhere that people can sit and spend more time in, even being on a quieter street influences the feeling of the bookstore. I just have to take it one day at a time and focus on getting the rest of the rooms open!"
READ NEXT:
- Muslim Derry girl, 11, 'over the moon' with support for letter criticising use of 'other' on school forms
- Raychel Ferguson’s family have faced long and painful journey, inquest told
- Extra Translink buses for Derry fans travelling to Clones for Ulster final requested
- Bealtaine festival in Derry brought forward due to adverse weather forecast
To get the latest breaking news from Co Derry straight to your inbox, sign up to our free newsletter.
