A Bookshop of My Own: The Diary of Opening a Used Bookstore

The David & Goliath Thing

Opening a used bookstore: November 2025—Stef meets with the landlord and then gets hit with breaking news: there's another bidder. Cue the David and Goliath showdown. Now all she can do is wait, hope, and trust that community matters more than raking in the dough.
In this episode, I finally meet with the potential landlord. I lay it all out—the vision, the plan, the commitment to Mill Valley, the community impact. And then: breaking news. There's another bidder. And they're bigger, safer, offering more money. Classic David and Goliath.
All I can do now is wait and hope the landlord chooses what's best for the community—not just what's easiest or most financially secure for them. I have to trust that my vision matters, that a used bookstore serving this town is worth the risk.
My books and I are ready. We have a floor plan. Shelves are ready to order. Partners are lined up. I just need someone to believe in me.
I also take a moment to express gratitude toward my commercial agent, who has been advocating for me through all of this. Without her, I wouldn't even be in the running.
And I can't help but wonder at the movie-like quality of it all. This whole journey—the failed acquisition, the pivot, the 10,000+ books, the perfect space, the competing bidder—it feels like a story someone wrote. Except it's real, and I'm living it, and I don't know how it ends yet.
Current Book Count: ~10,000+
David versus Goliath. The Phoenix versus... well, we'll see.
🐦‍🔥 Follow along as The Phoenix Used Bookshop continues to rise—subscribe to A Bookshop of My Own and get updates at phoenixusedbookshop.com.

The Weeds

Opening a used bookstore: November 2025—Stef breaks down the nuts and bolts of pursuing a commercial space: the Letter of Intent (LOI) with tiered rent, personal guarantees, required paperwork, P&L fundamentals, multiple revenue streams, and why cost of goods matters. Plus: her other business (a free parenting blog) and a sneak peek at the potential space.
In this episode, I get into the weeds—the practical, unglamorous stuff you actually need to know when leasing commercial space.
I have an LOI out on a space that's big, expensive, and has everything I need. I walk through why I structured it with tiered rent—a way to align my growth trajectory with the landlord's revenue expectations while protecting myself in Year 1 when cash flow will be tight.
I also explain what a personal guarantee is (spoiler: it's terrifying but standard), and share the paperwork you need to have ready when you're seriously pursuing a property: financials, business plan, credit reports, references, proof of funds.
The P&L (profit and loss statement) comes up again because it's the backbone of everything. I talk about why multiple revenue streams are critical to a used bookstore's survival—in-store sales, online sales, products—and how cost of goods and wholesale purchasing work in retail. The margins are thin, so every decision matters.
I also mention my other business: ParentingwithGratitude.com, a free blog for parents. I do it for the parenting community, not profit—but I'm worried the potential landlords won't love hearing that I run a business that's intentionally unprofitable. We'll see.
And for those who want to see the space I'm excited about, I have a reel that shows it click here.
Current Book Count: ~9,000+
Sometimes the unsexy work is the most important work. 
🐦‍🔥 Follow along as The Phoenix Used Bookshop continues to rise—subscribe to A Bookshop of My Own and get updates at phoenixusedbookshop.com.

The Social Impact

Opening a used bookstore: October 2025—Stef experiments with a tiered rent LOI (Letters of Intent) to align landlords with her mission, battles frustration over the pace of progress, learns an expensive Canadian shipping lesson on The Art of Books platform, and gets an email that validates why she's documenting this journey—because mattering matters.
In this episode, recorded in October 2025, I'm trying something new with the rental search: I sent out a Letter of Intent (LOI) with a tiered rent structure. Instead of working against landlords, I'm testing whether I can persuade them to work with me—to see the bookstore as a community asset worth supporting with flexible terms. We'll see if it works.
But honestly? I'm frustrated. I want to be in the learning-on-the-ground phase—making mistakes in the store, figuring things out with customers, problem-solving in real time. Instead, I'm still stuck in the waiting phase, and it's not happening the way I hoped.
I also made a mistake with 'The Art of Books' platform that I need to share so others don't repeat it: I messed up Canadian shipping. It cost me, and I learned the hard way. If you're using the platform, pay close attention to international shipping settings—it matters more than you think.
But here's the win that turned my whole week around: I got an email from a woman in Washington state who's opening a used bookstore and loves the podcast. She told me it's helping her. And suddenly, I felt like I matter—like I'm contributing to something bigger than just my own store. This is community mattering in effect.
It also dovetails perfectly with my best friend's research on accomplishment and mattering. We've been talking about how mattering isn't just about being needed—it's about adding value and feeling valued. That email was both. It reminded me why I'm doing this, and why documenting the journey matters as much as the destination.
Current Book Count: ~9,000+
Sometimes the biggest impact isn't the one you planned. 
🐦‍🔥 Follow along as The Phoenix Used Bookshop continues to rise—subscribe to A Bookshop of My Own and get updates at phoenixusedbookshop.com.
Links:
The Art of Books platform for bookstore owners: theartofbooks.com
Sign up for a free Little Free Library refresh: phoenixusedbookshop.com

The Little Red Wagons

Opening a used bookstore: September 2025—Stef navigates rental heartbreak, battles online listing systems, rides the wave of trending Little Free Library refreshes, makes a huge children's book haul, and prepares to manage books at the Santa Rosa Reuse Fair. Plus: why she needs little red wagons, and some tea about the store from Chapter 1...
In this episode, the rental drama continues. Every week I'm planning, envisioning, falling in love with a space—and then losing it. The heartbreak is real, and it's wearing on me.
The tech struggle is also ongoing. I'm using 'The Art of Books' as my online listing platform (link for other bookstore owners: theartofbooks.com), but the learning curve is steep and progress feels slow.
On the bright side? Little Free Library refreshes are on fire. Like, #trending levels of demand. People are reaching out, the service is resonating, and it feels like the community-building piece of this business is already working.
I also make a massive haul of children's books while attending a Positive Psychology conference in Sacramento—worlds collide in the simplest way, yay!
And I have a request for listeners: I need little red wagons. I've decided they'll make the perfect $1 book bins outside the shop—easy to move, fun to look at, and a pop of color that says "come dig through me."
I'm also gearing up for the huge Santa Rosa Reuse Fair, where the Reuse Alliance diverts tons of waste from landfills by collecting items in the morning and curating a warehouse for people to "shop" for free in the afternoon. I'm in charge of the books—and I get to bring any remaining books home. It's a perfect mix of values and inventory needs.
And stick around to the end, because I share a little juicy gossip (or ☕, if you prefer) about the store from Chapter 1. You'll want to hear this. 
Current Book Count: ~9,000+
Red wagons, reuse fairs, and a little bit of drama. 🐦‍🔥
🐦‍🔥 Follow along as The Phoenix Used Bookshop continues to rise—subscribe to A Bookshop of My Own and get updates at phoenixusedbookshop.com.
Links mentioned:
The Art of Books platform for bookstore owners: theartofbooks.com
Sign up for a free Little Free Library refresh: phoenixusedbookshop.com
Reuse Alliance: https://www.reusealliance.org/

The Pivot Point

Opening a used bookstore: Late August 2025—Stef grapples with online listing technology frustrations, watches more local businesses close, analyzes her P&L (profit and loss statement), and pivots from buying books to sourcing startup supplies. Plus: her first Little Free Library refresh and a Rite Aid liquidation win.
In this episode, I'm hitting a wall—and it's technological. I've been struggling to find the right tools to make online book listing easier and more fun. Despite having a huge lead time, I feel blocked. The progress isn't happening the way I need it to, and the frustration is real.
The rental space search continues with a decent prospect on the table, but I'm also watching more businesses close in the area, which makes me nervous. It's a reminder that I need to stay disciplined about the numbers.
Speaking of numbers: the P&L (profit and loss statement, for anyone new to this) is telling me something important. I need to slow down on book acquisition and start focusing on finding admin and startup supplies at estate sales instead. Office supplies, cleaning materials, organizational tools—the unsexy stuff that adds up fast if you buy it new.
And then I score big: Rite Aid is going out of business, and I load up on exactly what I need at liquidation prices.
I also did my first Little Free Library refresh as part of my commitment to equity and community access to books. And immediately got another sign-up. This service feels right—it's about making sure books reach everyone, not just people who can afford to buy them. If you have a Little Free Library that needs restocking, sign up for a free refresh at phoenixusedbookshop.com
Current Book Count: ~8,000-9,000 (but acquisition is slowing down intentionally)
Sometimes progress means knowing when to stop and redirect.
🐦‍🔥 Follow along as The Phoenix Used Bookshop continues to rise—subscribe to A Bookshop of My Own and get updates at phoenixusedbookshop.com.
Sign up for a free Little Free Library refresh: phoenixusedbookshop.com

The Summer Slowdown

Opening a used bookstore: Three months later, we are in the summer of 2025 and Stef hits 7,000-8,000 books, watches local bookstores shut down their used departments, doubles down on finding the lowest rent possible (even if it means going small), and explains why online sales are critical—and why she's actually in the book processing business, not just retail.
In this episode, it's been three months since my last recording, and a lot has happened. The book count has jumped to somewhere between 7,000 and 8,000 books. The bulk deals are flowing thanks to the network I built in the first half of the year—books are coming in freely now, and the system is working.
But there's stress, too. Local bookstores are shutting down their used departments. Some are closing entirely. It's a reminder of how tight the margins are, and it's motivating me to stay laser-focused on one thing: finding the lowest rent possible. Even if that means opening with a smaller footprint, I'll shuffle my business structure to accommodate it. The key is not overextending myself.
I also dive into something that's been on my mind: mattering. Mattering is about adding value and feeling valued. I want The Phoenix Used Bookshop to be a place where the community feels like they matter—but also where employees feel like they matter. That culture has to be intentional from day one.
And then there's the business model reality: online sales. This revenue stream is critical to the success of a brick-and-mortar used bookshop. The truth is, I'm not just in the retail business—I'm in the book processing business. I acquire books, assess them, price them, and move them through multiple channels: in-store, online, bulk. Retail is just one output.
Current Book Count: 7,000-8,000
The summer was slow, but the work never stopped. 
🐦‍🔥 Follow along as The Phoenix Used Bookshop continues to rise—subscribe to A Bookshop of My Own and get updates at phoenixusedbookshop.com.

The Messy Middle (Vol. 1-2)

Opening a used bookstore: Stef hits 4,000+ books but enters the messy middle—slow progress, tedious work, and a feeling of inefficiency. She gets help with graphic design, encounters her first bust of an estate sale, and answers listener questions about the real obstacles to opening a store.
In this two-part episode, I'm deep in what I'm calling the messy middle. The book count is climbing but the pace feels slow, tedious, inefficient. I'm taking it one book at a time because that's all I can do right now. The doldrums are real.
I'm working on graphic design for the store, trying to capture that local bookstore vibe that feels authentic to Mill Valley. I also drove to Alameda for an estate sale that turned out to be a total bust—sometimes you win, sometimes you waste gas.
Part 2 dives into FAQs I've been getting about opening the store. The biggest question: what are the obstacles? I break it down simply:
Money — tight
People power — also tight
When both are constrained, the exchange is time. This won't happen quickly, but it will happen. Right now, timing actually matters—I kind of don't want the rental space yet. There's too much to do and not enough of me. I'm training my kids to help, and I share some of the unspoken rules for children of business owners who work in the family business (spoiler: it's different than being a regular employee).
I also talk more about tariffs and how they're going to push more people into the resale business. The circular economy is about to get crowded, and I'm hoping I have enough of a head start to stay competitive.
Current Book Count: 4,000+
This is the part of the story where it's not glamorous. It's just work. 🐦‍🔥
🐦‍🔥 Follow along as The Phoenix Used Bookshop continues to rise—subscribe to A Bookshop of My Own and get updates at phoenixusedbookshop.com

The Final Piece

Opening a used bookstore: Stef locks in a crucial book source with rock-bottom 'cost of goods', navigates a home drowning in 3,000+ books, discusses tariff-proofing through reuse, and considers making her bookstore cat-friendly.
In this episode, the final piece clicks into place. I've secured an important intake option for books that gives me an extremely low cost of goods—this is the kind of source that makes a used bookstore financially viable.
Meanwhile, my house is officially overrun. We're talking 3,000+ books and counting. Stacks everywhere. My cats are thriving—they love the new jungle gym situation. It's chaos, but it's purposeful chaos.
I also talk about something that's been on my mind: tariffs. In a climate where import costs are unpredictable and supply chains are vulnerable, reuse businesses have a massive advantage. We're tariff-proof. Every book I sell has already been in circulation—no overseas shipping, no customs fees, no waiting on containers. It's local, circular, and resilient.
And speaking of cats—mine are so happy with the book stacks that I'm genuinely considering making The Phoenix a bookshop-cat kind of place. We'll see. But the idea is growing on me.
Current Book Count: 3,000+
The foundation is solid. The pieces are coming together. 🐦‍🔥
🐦‍🔥 Follow along as The Phoenix Used Bookshop continues to rise—subscribe to A Bookshop of My Own and get updates at phoenixusedbookshop.com

The Margins

Opening a used bookstore: Stef completes business registration, develops SKU and pricing systems, redoes her P&L, and explains why growing up in small business gives her confidence—plus a magical evening with Kate DiCamillo and Ann Patchett.
In this episode, it's paperwork time. EIN, Seller's Permit, city registration—all done and I'm thrilled to actually have my ducks in a row this time.
But the work didn't stop there. I realized I couldn't keep inventorying books without SKUs, which meant I needed a SKU algorithm, which meant I needed a pricing strategy, which meant redoing my entire P&L. The truth? The numbers work, but I have to sell a lot of books. My number one priority is finding affordable rent—everything else is flexible.
I also share why I feel confident opening a bookstore despite never running one. The answer: I grew up in small business. My family owned five childcare centers—a brutally low-margin business with government ratios, healthy snack requirements, and yes, cat poop in sandboxes. I was the cheap labor who learned to find space in tight margins. Between that and my peek into bookstore finances from the failed acquisition, I'm ready for Year 1 mistakes and all.
I picked up How to Start and Run a Used Bookstore by Stephanie Chandler for the operational shortcuts, and had an incredible night at the Charles M. Schulz Museum with Kate DiCamillo and Ann Patchett. They signed books for the store, and I got a photo with Ann Patchett that's going up in the shop.
Current Book Count: 2,000+ (inventory paused until systems are finalized)
🐦‍🔥 Follow along as The Phoenix Used Bookshop continues to rise—subscribe to A Bookshop of My Own and get updates at phoenixusedbookshop.com
Links mentioned:
How to Start and Run a Used Bookstore by Stephanie Chandler
Kate DiCamillo | Ann Patchett
Charles M. Schulz Museum

The Strawberry Parable

Opening a used bookstore: Stef makes it official with an LLC, launches a landing page, and announces The Phoenix Used Bookshop to her neighbors—who immediately start donating books. Plus: a Costco revelation, a serendipitous book encounter, and the Strawberry Parable.
In this episode, things are getting real. The LLC is formed. The landing page is up. I make the announcement to my neighbors, and suddenly books are showing up on my doorstep. The community is already stepping in, and it feels like validation that this store is needed here.
I'm still waiting to hear back from the Mill Valley Library about potential partnerships, but in the meantime, I'm having fun—balancing business admin with inventory work, and it's energizing in a way I didn't expect.
I also share a store differentiator I gleaned from an unlikely source: Costco. Yes, Costco. We all love Costco, right? There's something about how products find you there—the serendipity, the discovery. I want The Phoenix to work the same way: a place where books find you, not just where you hunt for specific titles.
And speaking of books finding me: I was found by Orwell's Roses by Rebecca Solnit. Inside it was the Strawberry Parable—a Zen teaching about presence, beauty, and survival. It was the third time that month I'd encountered this parable, and I knew I had to share it with you. It's real. It's grounded. It's not about toxic positivity—it's about finding sweetness even when you're hanging on.
I'm also gearing up to organize TheArtofBooks.com so I can start selling online and building another revenue stream. The inventory engine is humming, the business structure is solidifying, and the store is taking shape.
Current Book Count: 2,000+ (and climbing with neighbor donations)
🐦‍🔥 Follow along as The Phoenix Used Bookshop continues to rise—subscribe to A Bookshop of My Own and get updates at phoenixusedbookshop.com.
Links:
Orwell's Roses by Rebecca Solnit 
The Strawberry Parable