A Look at Organic Books, Rogers Seeks to Expand MR Area, Pride This Weekend and More

(Photo of the Day: Roland Penttila)

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Organic Books is Homegrown and Family-Owned

The neighborhood they loved was missing a bookstore, so they built one

by Woz Flint

Organic Books (111 Carlisle Blvd SE) is a new and used bookstore in the Nob Hill Business Center on the corner of Central Ave and Carlisle Blvd. (Photo: Woz Flint)

When former journalists Steve and Kelly Brewer found themselves at a professional crossroads, searching for a new adventure, it didn’t take long for them to decide that opening a bookstore was the dream of dreams. Why? “It just seemed like a natural progression for us,” said Kelly. “And because…books!”

Nob Hill was the obvious choice for their endeavor. The family of four—which includes their sons Seth and Max—had zero retail experience, but wanted to do it right. “There was a hole that needed to be filled in the neighborhood,” said Seth, a graduate of neighboring UNM. “And we knew Nob Hill was ready to support the readers and writers of the community.”

The Brewers spent countless hours getting the space business-ready by procuring a diverse selection of books, building shelves, sprucing up the space and organizing their inventory. In 2018, they opened the doors to Organic Books—a tongue-in-cheek name referring to “books made with paper, no batteries required.”

Housed at 111 Carlisle Blvd. SE, in the Nob Hill Business Center and just around the corner from La Montañita Food Co-op, the location was no stranger to used books, having formerly been occupied by Book Stop, one of the city’s beloved bookstores of days gone by.

Organic Books welcomes readers to explore the shelves. (Photo: Woz Flint)

“Before we were even up and running, people would walk past and excitedly peer through the windows,” said Kelly. “When we officially opened, we were humbled by the warm reception and support given to us.”