VICTOR, Idaho — Listen up, Teton Valley readers: Victor is getting a new bookstore.
Whitney Jensen and her husband, Skye Gunter, will open bookstore Violet Volumes this summer in the former home of Spoons Bistro. Their lease begins in May, with plans to open the store to customers in June.
Jensen, an avid reader, intends to offer something for everyone at the shop. Violet Volumes will mostly sell brand-new books, with space for used books on the covered porch. She said she has approached local artisans about hosting a small selection of local items and book-lover accessories.
“We’ll have something for everyone,” Jensen told Buckrail. “Having diverse representation of authors is really important to me, as well.”
The couple decided to open up shop after Jensen endured a brain injury, which made her former work in education less feasible.
“Kids on their best day are a lot of stimuli, so we were looking for something a little more mellow for me,” she said.
Jensen noted that the shop will span two rooms, with one dedicated to children’s literature. She plans to host a weekly story time, as well as book clubs for different ages.
“We really hope to encourage reading among youth in the community and offer space for them to be excited about books,” Jensen said. “We plan to be a gathering space for the community where everyone feels welcome.”
She hopes the store will serve as a hub for the community beyond its youth, with programming plans including open mic nights, sewing circles and book clubs for adults.
Teton Valley residents have had to venture elsewhere to find a dedicated bookstore since the closure of Dark Horse Books in Driggs in 2012. Jensen and Gunter are drawing inspiration from Dark Horse, as well as the Jackson Hole Book Trader, to create an atmosphere that appeals to the local community. Gunter’s visits to The Strand in New York City, his hometown, are also touchstones.
Violet Volumes is already drumming up a following in the Valley, with an active Facebook page for engaging with locals. Jensen said she’s been getting encouraging feedback.
“We’ve been overwhelmed by the positive response,” she said. “A lot of people have asked how they can help get the bookstore going, and if they want to donate, we’ve started a GoFundMe for the kids’ room.”
