{"id":43549,"date":"2025-07-06T14:20:14","date_gmt":"2025-07-06T14:20:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/43549\/"},"modified":"2025-07-06T14:20:14","modified_gmt":"2025-07-06T14:20:14","slug":"turning-the-page-on-big-business-how-omaha-residents-can-support-their-local-bookstores-news","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/43549\/","title":{"rendered":"Turning the page on big business: How Omaha residents can support their local bookstores | News"},"content":{"rendered":"

Shelves stacked to the brim with well-loved\u00a0books, a corner for puzzles and board games,\u00a0the smell of freshly brewed coffee at your disposal and a lounge area for customers to curl up with their newest read are just some of the elements that comprise the cozy vibe of Omaha\u2019s own\u00a0The Book Nook Bookstores<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Co-owners of The Book Nook Bookstores, DaRonn Washington and Brittny Escamilla, pride themselves on the sense of connection they\u2019ve built within the Omaha literary community. Washington and Escamilla started the Papillion location of the bookstore fresh out of the COVID-19 pandemic because they saw a scarcity of local places to purchase books. \u201cBecause we opened the store at a time when people felt so isolated, it became a center for engagement and a way for people to support one another and their community,\u201d Escamilla said.<\/p>\n

Washington believes customers get something special out of their experience at\u00a0The Book Nook locations. \u201cBook buyers miss out on the small things when they shop online or when they stop in the book aisles at Target instead of shopping\u00a0locally,\u201d Washington said. \u201cNot many people can say the owner of the business has personally made them a cup of coffee as they chat about their latest read.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

In addition to the personable feel of The Book Nook Bookstores, the owners feel that the community has really adopted The Book Nook and its emphasis on affordable books. \u201cThe business model we use is different from other independent bookstores,\u201d Escamilla said. \u201cWe have a revolving door concept where we only buy books secondhand from the public, so our stock feels almost like a pulse on the community.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

Unfortunately, with fluctuations within the economy and the surge of people buying books online or from multi-channel retailers since the pandemic, independent bookstores in Omaha,\u00a0like The Book Nook, are struggling to keep their doors open to the community.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Amazon alone generates more than 80 percent<\/a> of all online book sales worldwide. Not only does Amazon make a profit when consumers buy physical books, but\u00a0also when audio books and ebooks\u00a0are distributed through the Amazon subdivisions of Audible and Kindle.\u00a0All of these book sales are in addition to the sales Amazon makes from anything\u00a0not book-related\u00a0purchased on their website or app. Unlike Amazon, independent bookstores only earn a profit when customers buy books or book-related items.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Even large chain bookstores like Barnes & Noble<\/a> are feeling the pressure of competing with Amazon. In Barnes & Noble\u2019s case, their business model is shifting to capitalize on what customers miss out on when purchasing books from Amazon. To set themselves apart, Barnes & Noble is focusing on providing a sensory experience that feels intimate and organic to consumers. They also have Barnes & Noble special editions and signed exclusives that appeal to certain readers.\u00a0<\/p>\n

While this may sound dire, there are still many ways the Omaha community can support their local bookstores. Book buying is so much more than clicking some buttons and waiting for a package to arrive;\u00a0it\u2019s an immersive experience.\u00a0From their own signature smell or a cat that greets you as soon as you walk in, there are several independent bookstores in the greater Omaha area to choose from, each with their own unique\u00a0aesthetic and customer experience such as The Pen & Dagger<\/a> in La Vista or 2 Dads and a Bookstore<\/a> in Bellevue.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

Engagement outside of purchasing books in stores also helps local bookstores stay in communities. Social media gives independent bookstores online visibility that brings in new customers. The Wandering Page<\/a>, a cafe and bookstore located in the Blackstone District, utilized social media to promote its June 30 opening. With pastries from Grand Patisserie, shelves of books to choose from, and cozy couches to lounge on, The Wandering Page has already made its brand clear on their social media pages.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Leaving reviews on the bookstore\u2019s website or on Yelp gives\u00a0them the extra boost that encourages new shoppers to stop in. Even recommending the bookstore to friends and family makes an impact on the store\u2019s potential sales.<\/p>\n

Another way to become a part of an independent bookstore\u2019s community is to go to their events. Local bookstores across Omaha hold a plethora of events from board game nights to local author book signings to popups at farmer\u2019s markets and fairs to specialized book clubs.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

The Next Chapter Books and Gifts, a woman-owned small business located in downtown Omaha, has five running book clubs with a new one in the works. Some of The Next Chapter\u2019s book clubs include a young adult book club, an LGBTQ+ book club and a romance book club. More information on what books these clubs are currently reading and when they meet can be found on the business\u2019s website<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The Book Nook has also\u00a0expanded into events for the community like puzzle clubs and weeknight concerts.\u00a0\u201cLike other independent bookstores in Omaha, we are focusing on having more events to engage the community,\u201d Escamilla said.\u00a0\u201cSome of our recent flagship events were a Bridgerton-themed tea party, a Wicked event with several activities and a real goat and we\u2019re currently planning an Omaha Monopoly event, working with other small businesses in the area.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

Another way to support local bookstores without leaving the comforts of your own home is purchasing from their online catalogues.\u00a0Since 2020, the American Booksellers Association<\/a> has seen a drastic increase in online book sales from independent bookstores. Because of the switch to more consumers buying books online, bookstores in Omaha have made it easier for customers to shop online while still supporting local businesses.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The Pen & Dagger bookstore, along with several others in the Omaha area,\u00a0use their online catalogue to showcase\u00a0all the\u00a0books they have in stock in store and for purchase online. Through the filters on their website, customers can narrow their searches to their desired price range, genre and publish date.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Local bookstores like The Bookworm,\u00a0located in the Loveland Centre, also utilize\u00a0their website<\/a> to inform customers about what is going on at the store, as well as giving them a full online catalogue to shop from. The Bookworm additionally has a newsletter for patrons to stay up to date on events like weekly story times, author signings and new books in stock.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Even if you\u2019re not the biggest bookworm, you can still support independent bookstores in Omaha by purchasing books to donate<\/a> to local libraries, women\u2019s shelters, the Nebraska Children\u2019s Home Society, the Omaha Book Recovery and several other places in the greater Omaha area.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Unlike purchasing books from Amazon or at a multi-channel retailer\u00a0like Target or Walmart, when people shop at local bookstores, they see the direct local impact of the book they\u2019ve bought. Most of the bookstore owners\u00a0in the Omaha area are the first face you see when you open the door, further showcasing their investment in the community, like co-owners Escamilla and Washington.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cThe Book Nook is so much more than a place to buy books,\u201d Washington said.\u00a0\u201cWe\u2019re very thankful to be a part of the community and want to continue giving book lovers opportunities to experience community.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cAs a champion of local business, I truly believe it is every literary lover, writer and reader\u2019s responsibility to support their local bookstores unless they want to see their favorite business go belly up,\u201d Washington said.<\/p>\n

Unfortunately, with fluctuations within the economy and the surge of people buying books online or from\u00a0multi-channel retailers\u00a0since the pandemic, independent bookstores\u00a0in Omaha\u00a0are struggling to keep their doors open to the community, but there are many ways locals can help.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Shelves stacked to the brim with well-loved\u00a0books, a corner for puzzles and board games,\u00a0the smell of freshly brewed…\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":43550,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[31],"tags":[34043,2431,34045,1022,34038,34039,171,10312,28597,34042,34040,34046,34044,34041,67,132,68],"class_list":{"0":"post-43549","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-books","8":"tag-2-dads-and-a-bookstore","9":"tag-amazon","10":"tag-barnes-and-noble","11":"tag-books","12":"tag-brittny-escamilla","13":"tag-daronn-washington","14":"tag-entertainment","15":"tag-local-business","16":"tag-omaha","17":"tag-pen-dagger","18":"tag-the-book-nook","19":"tag-the-bookworm","20":"tag-the-next-chapter","21":"tag-the-wandering-page","22":"tag-united-states","23":"tag-unitedstates","24":"tag-us"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/pubeurope.com\/@us\/114806733049807174","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/43549","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=43549"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/43549\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/43550"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=43549"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=43549"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=43549"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}