On Saturday, April 27, Canada celebrates Independent Bookstore Day, and Bacchus Books (now Four Points Books Golden) invites book lovers and community members to join in the festivities honouring the rich tapestry of independent bookstores nationwide. “We are thrilled to be a part of Canadian Independent Bookstore Day,” says Grant Hofer, who (along with his wife, Thiloma) is the new owner of Bacchus Books. “Our bookstore is not just a place to buy books; it’s a hub for fostering connections, sparking conversations, and celebrating the joy of reading.”
Independent Bookstore Day showcases local bookstores’ unique offerings and emphasizes the importance of independent businesses in sustaining vibrant communities. “We are grateful for the support of this community and the passion of book lovers who continue to make Bacchus Books a thriving space,” adds Thiloma. “Independent bookstores like ours play a vital role in preserving literary diversity and promoting a culture of exploration and imagination.”
The new owners at Bacchus also have some big plans for the bookstore. Bacchus will be closing for a “refresh” on the 29th of April, reopening a week later on May 6th. “We’re going to enhance the layout of the store a bit while introducing some more new books and improving the quality of our used book selection.” says Grant, adding, “Don’t worry, the café and the used books aren’t going anywhere!”
The new owners are enamoured with books and – by extension – the role a good independent bookstore can play, especially in a small community. “We fell in love with the character at Bacchus and look forward to building on that.”
This means more new books across all genres, including a strong emphasis on kids and young adults. Books that are used will continue to be an important part of the formula for Bacchus, although there will be some changes. “To make sure we’ve got the right books on the shelves, we’re going to be a bit more choosy about the books we take,” says Grant. “Unfortunately, we just aren’t big enough to stock everything!”
He also indicated that the old credits will be phased out later this year, but a new trade-in system will allow new credits to be used for new books. The pending store refresh lends some extra significance to Independent Bookstore Day this year, as Bacchus will have a new look when it reopens in May.
“As the day unfolds at Bacchus Books on April 27th, Golden and its surrounding areas are invited to celebrate the magic of books, participate in some fun in-store events, and cherish the treasure trove that is the independent bookstore experience.”
Four Points Books Golden is open Monday to Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and Sunday from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Courtney Allen is the manager at Four Points Books in Golden, BC. She is the author of A Book A Day Book Review and writes regularly for The Golden Star. See some of her book reviews here.
