There’s something very satisfying about seeing a bookstore that looks exactly as a bookstore should. Real estate offices, digital marketing companies, and insurance firms have infested city centers of small towns across the country. Important businesses of course, but I question how many window shoppers see it fit to pop into these places to see if there is a house or insurance plan that can accompany the outfit they just bought. Old Town Fort Collins, is also somewhat guilty of this. Luckily there are business like Old Firehouse Books to help balance things out and keep the spirit of the town alive.
When approaching the red brick building, most people, myself included, will be rightfully preparing themselves for the worst. Anticipating interior and exterior photos of homes that they can never hope to afford. Instead, you will be greeted with the latest releases and a chalkboard highlighting upcoming events the store hosts.
Old Firehouse Books claims to be the largest independent bookstore in Northern Colorado and this certainly seems to be true. Granted, I did not have a ruler with me. Although the store is by no means an auditorium, it strikes the perfect balance of a cozy and welcoming local book store, while still being large enough to have a varied and impressive stock.
Like so many businesses in Old Town, this is not just somewhere that tourists ramble through on weekends between meals, although it does lend itself to this fairly well. This is truly an any-day-of-the-week bookstore. With events all month long, it can be just as busy on a Wednesday evening as it is on a Saturday in high summer. The selection is well-curated, offering plenty of used books at bargain prices, but there is also a reliable selection of the newest releases.
Selection at Old Firehouse Books
Even if they don’t have what you are looking for, this is the type of bookshop where any employee would be eager to track it down for you one way or another. The aesthetic, location, selection, and general vibe make this the one bookstore you should check out if you ever find yourself in Northern Colorado. There is a palpable passion for the written word here and it is the only place in town where you can hear spirited conversations about books between customers and employees. This is where you go when you have no idea what you want to read. You can browse solo, or you can talk to one of the well-read employees who will be more than excited to make a recommendation, or you can blindly grab something off the shelf.
Even if you have dozens of unread books sitting on a shelf at home, Old Firehouse Books is always worth a stop when you’re in the neighborhood. Whether it’s to find inspiration or to attend the book signing of a local author, there is always a reason to come back and you’ll likely walk away with a sense of calm contentedness that few modern businesses can offer.