GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) — A new bookstore open on Bridge Street in Grand Rapids aims to become a community space for customers.

On Monday, Cellar Bird Books celebrated its grand opening at 415 Bridge St. near US-131 with a ribbon-cutting ceremony. Lea Kocurek, who lives on the West Side herself, said customers who have stopped in have expressed excitement at having another option along Bridge Street.

“Bridge Street specifically is just very walkable and close to so many things,” she said. “Especially with all the restaurants nearby, if people are waiting for a table or want to come before or after a meal, I thought that it might be a nice place for people to come in and browse and hang out.”

Kocurek has a background in film production. She moved to Los Angeles from Texas in 2015, working as production management for animated films.

Three years ago, she said her and her husband were looking for a change. She was working remotely, so they could move anywhere in the United States.

After narrowing it down to Michigan, they decided to move to Grand Rapids, which she said “seemed wonderful.”

“We bought a house sight unseen, and drove across the country,” she said. “That was the first time we ever set foot in Michigan. But we love it so much, so we’ve been here for three years now.”

At the beginning of the summer, she wrapped up a project she had been working on for her previous job and decided to take the jump and pursue her dream of opening an independent book store.

“I think maybe opening this bookstore is maybe a little scarier (than moving across the country,” she said. “Only just because, I’m putting a lot into it. … I don’t know how people will react to it, or if they’ll come.”

Putting the store together went smoothly, she said. She designed it to have a dark and cozy vibe, with lots of dark wood and dark purple walls. She picked up chairs from Lost and Found Treasures, an antique store on Century Avenue, and found some doors from Elevate, a vintage store located on Clyde Park Avenue.

She and her mom turned the doors into the store’s counter and a table for displaying books.

“I’ve just really enjoyed all of the little pieces that I’ve been able to find to add a little bit of character to the store,” she said.

Alongside a curated selection of new books, the store also offers literary-themed gifts and other fun items like puzzles, notebooks and stickers.

Cellar Bird Books opens as the book industry sees a resurgence. Multiple book stores have opened in Grand Rapids over the last two years, including Orchard House, Black Dog Books and Records and Rolling Rabbit Books. A new Barnes & Noble location is set to open at Knapp’s Crossing, Crain’s Grand Rapids Business reports.

The Associated Press reports that in 2023, membership of the American Booksellers Association was at around 2,400, almost double what it was in 2016 and 200 more than the previous year.

“Our numbers are really strong, and we have a solid, diverse pipeline of new stores to come,” ABA CEO Allison Hill told the Associated Press. “Some are opening to give back to their community. And some still just love books.”

Kocurek said she thinks books are seeing a new growth in popularity.

“(Books) are almost having a resurgence,” she said. “Books have been around forever. But I think people are really enjoying stories right now and wanting to get off phones and digital media.”

In the new year, Kocurek hopes to host events and book clubs at Cellar Bird Books. For now, she’s enjoyed chatting with customers and helping them find their next read.

“The great thing after I’ve opened is just meeting all of the people that come in that are so happy to have a bookstore here,” she said. “But also being able to recommend books to people that are looking for recommendations is one of my favorite things. I love it so much, especially when they then enjoy the book.”