A Bookshop of My Own: The Diary of Opening a Used Bookstore
What does it really take to open a used bookstore in 2026? Join me, Stef Tousignant, as I document the messy, inspiring, behind-the-scenes journey from the stacks of donated books in my office to the grand opening of The Phoenix Used Bookshop.
This is a diary-style podcast — raw voice memos, real decisions, setbacks and small victories — for anyone who’s ever dreamed of owning a bookstore but wondered what it’s really like.
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Episodes
Thursday Oct 09, 2025
Thursday Oct 09, 2025
In this first full episode, I share the story behind A Bookshop of My Own — how I grew up surrounded by small business life, why bookstores have always felt like home, and why they matter so deeply to all kinds of people.
This is the backstory of how it all started: the moment I decided to write an offer letter to buy an existing used bookstore, what that process looked like, and why it set me on the path toward creating my own.
It’s personal, it’s honest, (and it’s explicit sorry!) — because this story deserves to be told exactly as it happened
Want to follow along as The Phoenix Used Bookshop comes to life?Subscribe to this podcast, and sign up for updates at phoenixusedbookshop.com
Friday Sep 26, 2025
Friday Sep 26, 2025
Before the shelves are built, before the grand opening, there’s a story: I thought I was going to buy an existing used bookstore...that didn’t work out. So instead, I decided to open one of my own.
This preview episode introduces A Bookshop of My Own, a diary-style podcast documenting the messy, hopeful, behind-the-scenes journey of starting a used bookstore from scratch.