Small business shoutout: Country Bookshelf

As COVID-19 continues to rear its ugly head, it has become especially important to support our small, local businesses that add so much to the culture and experience of Bozeman. One great shop to support this year is Country Bookshelf, the quaintest book store around.

Country Bookshelf is a local, independent bookstore in the heart of historic downtown. The shop was first founded in 1957 by Polly Renne. Since then, the store has occupied several different locations, including the little white chapel on West Main Street. Today, the bookstore is owned by Ariana Paliobagis.

The atmosphere of the store itself is something out of a dream. As you walk into the door, you’re greeted with two floors full of beautiful books. Couches and chairs are scattered throughout the shop, inviting visitors to take a seat and flip their way through a big stack of novels. A calm quietness normally inhabits the store, setting you at ease. According to the Country Bookshelf website, “We are the bookstore everyone dreams of — two floors of hand-selected volumes, knowledgeable, caring staff, and events to expand horizons.”

According to the website, the beloved bookstore strives to be “the place where people go to feel part of their community, of something bigger than themselves, a place to experience the power of literature and conversation, a place to feel safe, not judged, and encouraged to explore ideas and identities.”

They don’t just sell books, either. The Country Bookshelf also hosts events regularly including book clubs, book signings, talks with various authors, different workshops and open mic nights where all are welcome to share their voice. The shop consistently provides people with a comfortable and non-judgemental environment.

In order to help make picking out a book easier, Country Bookshelf includes staff recommendations within the store and on its website. In fact, you can find a staff member that enjoys the same literature as you and peruse their listed recommendations.

Whether you have some Christmas money to spend or a New Years’ resolution to read more books, The Country Bookshelf is the perfect place to whisk away a winter afternoon.