An Independent Bookstore is defined as a bookstore that is independently owned and not a part of a larger corporation. In celebration of Independent Bookstore Day, which is recognized on the last Saturday in April, I have reached out to a local independent bookstore in the area, Golden Fig Books, to learn more about their bookstore and what makes it unique.
Golden Fig Books has two locations in the Durham- Carrboro area. The first location, situated near Foster’s Market off Durham-Chapel Hill Boulevard, opened its doors in February of 2019.
The owner, David Bradley, stated that while this was a difficult time to open a business, it was support from the community and a little bit of luck that helped make this business successful.
This success is shown through the opening of Golden Fig Book’s second location in Carrboro, NC in November of 2022.
Through a stop in the Durham location and a phone interview, I was able to learn more about the inspiration behind Golden Fig Books, along with why it is important for the community to support local independent bookstores in their area!
To begin the interview, I asked David what inspired him to start his own bookstore. He stated that while attending college at the University of North Carolina, and majoring with a degree in English, he rediscovered his love of reading. After graduating, he began working in the publishing and bookselling industry. In 2013, he did a cross country road trip where he partnered with Algonquin Books and wrote features on 44 bookstores across the country. It was during this journey that he realized it was his love for books, and being able to put books in customers’ hands, that inspired him to begin saving to open his own bookstore.
The next question was what makes Golden Fig Bookstore unique. To this question, David replied with the following, “The primary difference of Golden Fig Books from other stores is that there is a focus on used books for affordability and sustainability while maintaining the layout and selection of a new bookstore.”
It is easy to find the truth in this statement by visiting one or both of these locations. The layout is well-maintained, and it is clear there is a lot of pride and attention kept on the order of things.
Another interesting aspect to note about Golden Fig Books is their staff reviews. While a lot of companies might need to meet a quota per month for staff reviews, David says that he wants to be supportive of the books his staff loves, and they are able to write reviews according to just that. Further, they have a color-code system for their staff reviews. Therefore, if you pick a staff selection that may be labeled green, you will know that other books with staff reviews marked green are from the same staff member. Golden Fig Books also includes community members’ reviews as well! They have a Patreon membership on their website where they often pull reviews from, or even reviews that have been sent through the store’s email at info@goldenfigbooks.com.
This community aspect segways into the next big question: Why is it important for people to support independent bookstores?
The big takeaway from David’s response was the idea of community building and the importance of bringing people together. David discussed the value in supporting independent bookstores and places that care about their employees and paying them a livable wage. Additionally, he emphasized the importance of supporting bookstores that are focused on building authors and booksellers up, instead of worrying about profit margins like some large-scale booksellers may be focused on.
David emphasized the “shop local” movement and how one way of supporting your community can be spending money to keep money within the community you are a part of.
Golden Fig Books is working to expand its community outreach by operating events at their bookstores. The Carrboro location has had three events in the last few months as this location is better equipped to handle larger events. Events showcase local authors, readings, and even trivia! The next event is planned for the end of May where author Ken Wetherington is scheduled to be featured. You can find updates regarding events for the bookstores on their website and social media accounts that are linked here (Facebook and Instagram).
By: Emma Dahlsten
Emma is an Editorial Assistant at Technica Editorial
