This just popped up in my digital memories.
This was Nowhere Bookshop in late 2019, back when we had no idea of the shit show of 2020 that was coming.
At the time my biggest worry was that we’d uncovered a horde of floor vampires and that we couldn’t afford to do anything to the wonky floors other than power wash them. Then came the plague and that sucked for a number of reasons but it has given us over a year to build up the shop and the Fantastic Strangelings Book Club and while we STILL have never actually been able to open our doors to actual customers I’m so incredibly grateful every time I sneak up (after everyone is gone for the day) and curl up in the window seat with a book or four. And I wave at people who pass by and imagine how the store will look one day when those people can come inside.
And technically in a “how it started/how it’s going” sort of way it’s still not anything close to what I expected, but it is nice to look at it and realize that even when we may seem totally stuck we’re still moving forward. And not just the bookstore…you and I are moving forward too. Even when it doesn’t seem like it.
Celebrate those small victories, y’all.
It looks amazing! I’m going to come visit when it’s safe!
I love being able to support an independent bookstore, even if it is a few states away from my still snowy yard. Nowhere after all, is a state of mind.
Well, even though we’re all still on lockdown and I don’t live in Texas, your bookshop is the first place I look to when I need to order a book and y’all have been coming through for me in a big way! So YAY!
And in just a couple of weeks, you’ll be signing and shipping a blue million copies of your brand new, totally brilliant book!
Okay, what are floor vampires? I call nurses who take my blood for bloodwork “vampires” … are these nurses that live in the floor? 😛
Fantastic, Jenny. Thank you for this. Also, did you find anything interesting when you dug up the floor?
Oh for the days when floor vampires were our biggest worry. Love you girl!
The store looks amazing and I think we all need to congratulate ourselves on making it through The Year Like No Other.
I’ve just had an image pop into my head of the people who walk by a bookstore that’s never open – who don’t know anything about Jenny Lawson or her blog. All they see is a closed bookstore, and if you’re lucky late in the afternoon on certain days… you can see a woman reading in the window.
What they must think/wonder?
I have plane money socked away for when it’s safe. I’ll be there…some day.
I might have to add a codicil to my will that you inherit a vial of ashes stuffed inside a taxidermied raccoon, just in case…
Some day I hope to be able to see it in person.
I live in California but still plan to get to your store as soon as you open. I saw your reading on LA Jolla a few years ago but was too alone and scared to get you to sign my books afterwards. I also have family in San Antonio so win/ win!
Your bookstore is the best thing ever. I stopped reading for fun for years during med school and residency and babies, which all came back to back, so 4 years + 6 years + jesus, another 10 years. Holy Christ, it was 20 solid motherfucking years that I read maybe 3 fun novels the whole time.
I’m reading again now. My hobbies, which I always thought was too tame a word, have always been reading, laughing, sleeping and eating chocolate chip cookies. And 25% of my core self hibernated for so long without me consciously letting it go. Imagine my joy when joining your bookclub let me reclaim my inner strangeling- (there’s nothing inner about my strange, actually) by reminding me to read.
Thank you ❤️🧡💛💚💙💜
Also, what you said about us all moving forward, you healed some soul I hadn’t realized was so tired.
I’m totally going to fly from Boston when your store opens.
You make life good. Not too much pressure or anything, there’s reading, laughing, sleeping and cookies for when you need down time, but you have to know you are rare and wonderful.
Thank you.
I feel a road trip in my future… Going to Nowhere someday. Soon, I hope.
When I said “some soul I hadn’t realized was so tired, I didn’t mean I read your post and this sleepy dude walking down the street perked up. I meant a big swath of my own soul. But you probably helped all kinds of souls known and unknown by writing that, even if they never read it.
❤️
Wow we have come a long way!! I’ve planned a trip to SA this weekend with my spouse (we live in Dallas) and I’m so excited to finally see Nowhere Books in person!! I wish it was open, but if you see ridiculously giddy people outside taking photos and making heart-signs with their hands, that’s us – just some fellow Fantastic Strangelings!!! 🥰♥️
All the planning. All the work. The anticipation. I truly hope that you’re not feeling discouraged. The store has come a long way (what an undertaking!), and the journey continues 🙂
Nowhere is going to be my go to bookstore.
I promise we are just waiting to get in there. It’s not all for naught. You did a wonderful thing and we can’t wait to share in it with you.
You should be so, so, SO proud- how many other people had just barely almost not quite even opened a new business endeavor at the start of the pandemic and then SUCCEEDED!? You know you have many, many people who can’t wait for you to open and will be flooding the store from all corners of the bookverse just to see your amazing creation (and maybe get to see YOU, what a thrill that would be!). I can’t wait until I am fully vaccinated and travel is safe(r) and hopefully your store opening will coincide with my first trip to Texas in several years. If I could post a gif, it would be an eager person standing outside a store window with their face pressed up against the glass, eyes wide with anticipation, saying “openopenopenopenopenopenopen”.
It looks fantastic! I can’t wait until it’s safe to get lost in a bookstore again….
I need to get to your book store one day, although I live in Canada so that’s a ways to go. Some day…
Right now I am SO looking forward to getting your new book that I ordered from Nowhere Bookshop in the mail.
It’s beautiful! And with our current pandemic in mind, the first thing I noticed was all the lovely open space, so people (when they come) can still maintain distance. Wish I weren’t so far away….
The store looks like heaven to me! Our trips to Port Aransas over the years always take us through your city…. I can’t wait until we can go again & walk into that gorgeous bookstore!!!
Plus, I forgot to say that my email address is going to die soon, so I’ve subscribed with a new one….that’s the only way I could see to keep getting your mail notifications (which I love!!!) You rock, Jenny. You ROCK. 🙂
We’re planning a family vacation to Port Aransas this summer (doctor’s orders) and I’m not saying I picked it because it’ll take us through San Antonio so I can go see Nowhere, but I’m not *not* saying that either. Even if I just stand outside and press my face against the window and cry a little bit. I’ll bring Windex and clean up after myself.
Reading this while wearing my Nowhere Bookshop hoodie! Can’t wait until I can finally visit ❤
Did a curbside pick up last night and the window fronts look amazing. Can’t wait to go in and explore one day!
(Yay~ Jenny)
What a lovely feeling you should have to have achieved a dream you’ve had for years. It looks like an enormous amount of work and you should be very proud of yourself and everyone who contributed. Congratulations!
I got my 1st vaccination today! 3 more weeks until the 2nd one. A normal world is around the corner! Unless we all turn into zombies after the vaccination. I’m normally totally focused on food anyways so becoming a zombie wanting to eat brains is right up my alley I suppose. 🙂
This is truly marvelous and I look forward to visiting one day when the borders reopen. Sending love from Canada. 🙂
It’s kind of like you’ve created a museum diorama of a bookstore. “Before the plague years, young and old would congregate to discuss…..” https://possumscatsthingsgnawingatme.wordpress.com/2021/03/27/sounds-like-spring/
I love it so much and I’ve never even been there but I can’t wait to come visit!!! 🥰🥰🥰
So awesome!
“Isn’t it funny how day by day nothing changes, but when we look back everything is different?” C. S. Lewis
It looks like a delightful place to hang out! And it’s nice that you’re doing just that to layer on the good vibes for when people can come inside.
I can feel the good vibes from here in Colorado. If I start digging now, I wonder if I could have a reliable tunnel in place for when it’s safe to come in?
This makes me so happy for you!
Also, I am still going to be so disappointed if you don’t have a larger than life cutout of yourself, dead center of the bookstore, holding a sign that says, “I’m in the middle of Nowhere”, so we can take no pressure/no touching/no talking selfies ‘with’ you.
(Omg, I love this. ~Jenny)
you are fucking killing. it. obviously! keep up. the good vibes and good work TEAM. NOWHERE! <3<3<3 [#beenthereDOTHAT!!! :-)]
Oh yes! I second Rebecca’s suggestion! Would it be weird if I wanted a standee of you for my house?
Why in Bowie’s name did the floor originally look like Fred West’s basement?
The Vulcan and I are already planning on a roadtrip to your store; he’s a voracious reader, so it wasn’t too hard to sell him on the idea. We’ll have to do it after we each take a holiday without each other; he’s been working from home for one year as of last week, and you know I love him, but we’ve been in each other’s pockets and I’m ready to strangle him.
I just want to be sure we’re vaccinated ASAP, if only because my birthday is coming up soon, and all I want in the world is to hug my big teddy bear of a best friend that I haven’t seen in almost 13 months. That’s all. Oh, and a FAT spliff to split with him.
Your Pal,
Storm the Klingon
That cool floor should take care of the vampires! Please take a pic of the window seat!
My daughter and I have discussed it and your bookstore will be our first road trip! It’s not that difficult coming from Florida. We may continue on the Arizona to see my sisters. Will be a GREAT road trip!!!
fI second that great idea for the big cut-out of you, Jenny, in the middle of your store. Meanwhile, your cut-out inside the front window could announce: “I’m right on the edge of Nowhere.”
GAWD, what a magical transformation!!! You done SO good!!!
I love the Long, Strange Journey to Nowhere that was 2020. Your bookstore is one of my vicarious happy places!
I am so happy that you used so much of the existing character of the space that became Nowhere. And the addition of little visual treats you have scattered throughout – you gave my inner library nerd so much happiness with your Instagram tours.
I wish you were open now. I want to take a drive to look for bluebonnets and a stop at your store would round out my day. Hey- have you ever been to The Poppy House in Castroville? It’s stunning. I would go there, too.
As soon as it opens I’m road tripping down from Indiana.
Can you please make a giant cardboard cut out of yourself so when you do get to open and when Canadians can safely visit we can get a picture with “you”?
My wish is for the world to reach New Normal by the end of August and I can really visit San Antonio and Nowhere with friends! Backup plan since Alaska cruise/tour was canceled. AGAIN