A specialist, independent fantasy bookshop is set to open in the Wirral, following a successful Kickstarter campaign to help renovate its century-old premises.
Paper + Word, founded by book blogger and entrepreneur Abby, will establish a physical store in Bebington Village. The shop aims to be the UK’s first brick-and-mortar independent retailer dedicated solely to the fantasy genre, providing a real-world hub for a thriving online community.
The project turned to the crowdfunding platform Kickstarter to secure funds for the challenging renovation of the 100-year-old building. The campaign saw impressive support from the community, with 531 backers pledging £25,940 to help bring the vision to life.
Work on the shop had been delayed for five months, but Abby recently announced that renovations are now back underway. In a social media update, she shared her excitement and the scale of the task ahead.
“I’m currently in the process of opening the UK’s first brick-and-mortar independent fantasy bookshop. We’re hoping to open very soon… but things haven’t quite been going to plan with our 100-year-old building.”
Paper + Word already exists as an award-winning online brand. The new physical location will allow it to expand its offerings and create a dedicated space for fantasy fans to browse books and other curated products. The move represents a confident step for specialist independent retail, betting on a dedicated customer base to support a niche store in the face of online giants.
The successful Kickstarter, which concluded in February, will now fuel the final push to get the store ready for its grand opening.
