BookPeople of Moscow has been a beloved part of the Moscow community for 50 years now. The celebration of their 50th anniversary took place on November 15 at the store.
There were book signings from local authors and poets, food, refreshments and books to purchase at the celebration.
The quaint bookstore was packed with friends, family, authors and book lovers alike to celebrate the staff and the store on their huge milestone.
Co-owner and alumnus of the University of Idaho, Bre Pickens, has worked for BookPeople for six years. BookPeople felt special from the moment she first found it while exploring all the local bookstores in Moscow.
“As a total bookworm, it didn’t take me long to find all the bookstores in town. BookPeople was special from the beginning,” Pickens said.
She knew that it was the perfect fit for her, and she has continued to work there since 2017.
“It felt cozy, welcoming, and more than a little bit like home,” Pickens said.
As a co-owner of BookPeople, Pickens prides herself on her staff.
They are what she is most proud of with the store, and she always speaks highly of them.
“They’re incredible at their jobs and I wouldn’t be where I am without them,” Pickens said.
Over the now 50 years that they have been in business, BookPeople has tried to maintain consistency in many aspects of their business.
They still have a small team of hard-working staff members and all the books on their shelves are chosen carefully, with their customers’ wants in mind.
“And we still strive for all-around great customer service,” Pickens said.
Despite their consistent nature, BookPeople has changed in many ways over their 50 years too.
In 2020, they expanded their website so they could do more with their orders, and they dedicated a set of staff members to handle any special orders and requests through that platform.
They have significantly expanded their gift items over the last few years as well.
Pickens commends the community in Moscow for the success of BookPeople.
“Having a bookstore, I think, is important in any town, but I’m especially grateful for how much support our community has shown us over the years,” Pickens said.
There were people constantly going in and out of the store during their celebration.
Customers were buying books and knickknacks, enjoying the food and refreshments served by the staff members and making conversation with the local authors.
The bookstore was truly alive and bustling for the 50th anniversary celebration, which just showed how much love and appreciation the community has for BookPeople .
“Making it to a 50th anniversary is a feat for any business and so we’re all enjoying this time while we’ve got it, and I hope that we’ll make it for another 50 years!” Pickens said.
Brooklynn Jolley can be reached at [email protected]