Pulphead calls Bozeman creatives to a new late-night study space

Behind an average-looking building on South Wallace Avenue, there is a nondescript loading dock with an equally unremarkable door. Inside is a creative lounge called Pulphead, a late-night space for readers and writers. 

Wordsmiths are invited to join this after-hours hideaway and let their creative juices flow. According to owner and founder Mike Somerby, Pulphead is named after author John Jeremiah Sullivan’s 2011 collection of short stories. 

“He comes from a very specific branch of the literary world. He had been writing essays for various magazines for years, and he decided to make a collection of those essays, which was kind of amazing,” Somerby said.

Inside the lounge, the walls are a cozy, deep red color and there are muted tapestry rugs on the floor. An old box television on a top shelf has “First Edition Brain Rotter” written across its screen in white marker. Magazines, maps and bookshelves line the walls, surrounding small tables, couches and chairs.

“The vibe in there is open and warm,” said Claire Gore, a sophomore anthropology and art major. “Everyone seemed to be in conversation with each other or writing.”

Patrons can put five dollars into a coffee tin to use the space and receive unlimited drip coffee, tea and cornnuts during their visit. 

“My goal is that the space pays for itself,” Somerby said. "It's kind of amazing that there [was] no place in Bozeman open late that allows people to sit and work on a creative project or hang out with friends. Most businesses, you can go in, but you have to buy [stuff] to keep sitting there.”

Somerby said his initial hope was to establish a community for writers and create a cheap space to work. However, over the last few months, Pulphead has morphed into a place for a variety of activities, including studying, knitting or simply hanging out and having tea with friends.

“We got there at six and it was already mostly full,” said sophomore English literature major Kate Hicks. “We stayed for three hours and I was able to get a lot of work done. It felt nice to have a place to go to that was quiet so I could get my reading done, and I felt very comfortable.”

There are only 13 seats in the space, and Somerby encourages patrons to sit together. He said he has seen people who seem like complete opposites sitting together and engaging in conversation.

Somerby also encouraged patrons to read the room.

“It’s a bit more quiet [and] focused after ten, but earlier in the night is a bit more social,” he said. “If it's already kind of talky, feel free to let it rip, but if everyone’s reading, don’t come in and be that guy.” 

In addition to running the lounge, Somerby is also working to put out a print-only magazine titled Anemone. 

“People are becoming increasingly less dimensional,” Somerby said. “I think that by reading and writing more, and by engaging more with literature, you can really build perspective.”

Somerby is currently calling for submissions of short stories, creative nonfiction, poetry and photography for the first edition of the magazine. He has also announced a contest with a $2,500 grand prize.

“It would behoove humanity to have more artisans, writers, creatives, that can backfill against the slop,” he said. “The contest is a way to get people trying [to write]. All of us are writers, it's just, how practiced are you? All you need is a pencil or pen.

“The world is complicated and I think young people in particular deserve to chime in on that,” he said. “It doesn't need to be totally on the nose, a [fiction] story could have an allusion to something going on right now.”

The publication is only accepting works from artists who reside in Montana.

“We have a very unique perspective,” he said. “[Anemone is] giving a little bit of a space for Montanans to chime in. And selfishly, I get to enjoy a lot of local writing.” 

According to him, about 100 pieces have already been submitted, and the submission deadline is March 31. 

“I think a good space can really influence the quality of the work,” he said. “It's doubtful that anyone's [creative] place is underneath a bunch of fluorescent lighting. 

“There’s a nice dog in there too — Monkey’s a really great guy.”

Pulphead is open from 6 p.m. to 2 a.m. Wednesday through Saturday. To learn more, visit its Instagram @pulphead.bzn.