Independent Bookstore Feature: WordHaven BookHouse

Independent booksellers are the bloodline of stories, bringing them from warehouses to shelves right in your neighborhood. More than that, they become community centers where like-minded folks gather at bookish events.

The Lakeshore community is home to several independent bookstores. Each has its distinctive personality, and all carry the common theme—literacy is good for the community.

Fresh Water Press chatted with CJ Arthur at WordHaven BookHouse in Sheboygan, Wisconsin, about the community of their store.

FWP: Why did you decide to open a bookstore? How long have you been in business?

CJ: We opened almost four years ago on Independent Bookstore Day (April 30, 2022). I had moved to Sheboygan nine months before we opened. When I realized there wasn’t an indie bookstore in my new city, I decided to open one. I was a high school English teacher in Minnesota and am also a writer—so opening a bookshop and writing center felt aligned with my passions. I wanted to create a space where people could heal, connect, and grow together. But it is because of WordHaven’s amazing community (near and far) that WordHaven has become so much more than I could have ever dreamt.

FWP: Do you specialize in anything special or unique?

CJ: We have books from all genres, new and used, that have characters and authors that represent a myriad of identities. We also host book clubs, community nights, classes, and events. And our shop pups, Roo and Daphne, are a big part of the WordHaven experience.

FWP: What are the top things you look at when deciding what books to stock, and which to face-display?

CJ: We try and select books that will hopefully elicit comfort, understanding, escape, learning, compassion, and/or connection to the reader and/or others.

Are you a bookstore owner? Fresh Water Press would love to feature your story. Do you have a favorite bookstore you’d like to learn more about? Let us know at contact@freshwaterpressllc.com, and we’ll reach out to request an interview.