Help Open Detroit's 1st Late Night Used Book Store

Rehoming books to help rescue animals...

I'm Dora, the owner of Detroit Specials. I'm a long-time Detroiter (20 years and counting). I sell used books. 20% - 30% of  all  book sales goes to local animal rescue organizations and/or to provide veterinary and training services for local strays and owner surrenders.

Detroit Specials offers new and gently used books at rock-bottom prices. Most of our books cost $1-$3. We also have a huge inventory of hard-to-find mysteries and thrillers; art books; diverse children's books; vintage and antique books; gorgeous book prints; and more. 

In just a few years, my business has outgrown my home and I'm ready to expand from online sales to a brick-and-mortar store. I have an opportunity to open a bookstore in Detroit's iconic Russell Industrial Center. 

Detroit already has a few used bookstores, but most of them close before 8:00 PM. The only bookstore in Detroit with regular evening hours is the wonderful Source Booksellers, but their focus is on new nonfiction books.

With your help, I'd like to open the first general-interest used bookstore with late-night hours in the city.  I am a natural-born night owl (just ask all of my first period teachers, ever) and most days that we are open, I will be there until 10, 11...even midnight! The Russell has 24-hour security and well-lit, secure parking only steps from the building where I'll be setting up shop.

Detroit Specials will also offer a low-cost space several times a month for creatives and businesses to hold meetings or workshops. Since we'll regularly be open late, evening meeting space will never cost extra.

I've already put the hold payment on my space, and have made arrangements with several local artists and small businesses for design assistance, consignment sales, press, and mentoring. The support from the Detroit arts and small business communities has been wonderful. Our online sales are consistently strong and I can handle the month-to-month expenses, but startup costs are just out of reach...so I'm turning to other metro Detroit book lovers to help with the launch.

I'll be on the 3rd floor of the Art Building...sadly, #313 is already taken ;)

THE MONEY

I'm envisioning this as a relaxing community space where readers can come and browse for hours without being hassled; a store run by book lovers who can help readers find that perfect book; and of course, a shop with a nice meeting space and plenty of places to sit and read the first few chapters of your newest find to see if it's really the book for you.

The $4,000 I'm seeking will cover the rest of the deposit on the space, moving expenses, and other startup costs. I'll be putting in some of my own money, of course -- this just represents the funding I don't have on hand. Here's the breakdown:

$1,100  -- Deposit
$    700 -- Moving expenses
$    500 -- City inspection, architectural consultation, filing fees
$1,200 -- Furniture, fixtures, and other décor
$    500 -- Unexpected expenses
$4,000

THE STRETCH GOALS

If I receive more than $4,000 then I can expand the space and extend our hours. To that end, I have two stretch goals: $15,000 and $50,000.

At $15,000, I can upgrade to a larger space and offer private meeting space to community members.  I can also commit to monthly community programming like storytellers, book clubs, readings...just tell me what kinds of events you'd like to see, and I'll do my best to organize them.

At $50,000, I can build in two private meeting rooms and an upgraded children's book area. With this level of community support, I can also commit to extending the store hours even further; bringing in more community programs; and holding pop-up events throughout the year.

If we pass $50,000 then after I'm done hyperventilating (and dancing!) I'll be able to hire additional staff and schedule free weekly events for the public.

I have the stock...but these books deserve to be on brick-and-mortar shelves.

THE TIMELINE

Dec. 8 update: We have raised the funding to get started! We have spoken to The Russell's property manager and will be picking up the keys in mid-January (I'll need some time to prep after the holidays).

In January we will acquire the space and begin work on the basics: prepping the floor, finalizing design plans, and building in shelving along the walls.

In February we will acquire furniture and fixtures. In keeping with our theme of rehoming books and rescuing animals, we will also be using recovered materials for our fixtures and our furniture will mostly be purchased from local sellers and upcycled. It's been a long time since I refinished furniture, so this process will take me 3 or 4 weeks.

In March we will begin moving in the stock. We will open in March*, but don't have a date yet.

*If we reach the $15,000 stretch goal or more, I will be upgrading to a larger space. This means actual construction will happen on the site and we will not be approved for foot traffic until April...BUT we still want to do something in March so our wonderful supporters don't have to wait too long to start claiming their rewards! In this case, we'll hold a preview pop-up in the hallway outside the shop and give people the chance to peek inside.

THE REWARDS!

Anyone who donates at any level will receive at least a 125% credit* toward in-store or online purchases from Detroit Specials.

People who donate $200 or more will receive the option to take the 125% credit AND sign up for free meeting space slots (at the rate of 1 hour per $100), after we launch OR to take a 150% in-store or online purchase credit*.

Opening the kind of bookstore I'd like to visit has long been a dream of mine. So has having a space in the Russell. With your help, I can make both dreams come true and do more to help Detroit's rescue animals.

If you've ever longed for a late-night bookstore with a wonderful atmosphere and great bargains on every shelf, this will be the place for you!

We have hundreds of diverse books - especially #ownvoices - including LOTS of children's books.
___________________________________________________________________________

*Credits will be valid for one year after launch. Space rental will be valid for 18 months after launch. GoFundMe doesn't have an easy way for me to deliver rewards and this section is already very long, so I will post detailed information on how to claim your reward in the first update.