Anderson's Bookshop Turns to Crowdfunding to Build La Grange Location

Published June 25, 2015.

A crowdfunding campaign to bring Anderson’s Bookshop to La Grange has collected more than $6,800, but the project still has a way to go to reach its $50,000 goal by July 10.

The first Deluxe Golden Ticket — a reward for a $500 donation — was sold Monday, giving the buyer one of the first spots to meet five authors visiting any Anderson’s location and get signed copies of those authors’ books.

That’s one of the higher-level donation perks Anderson’s is offering through its IndiGoGo site. There are also coffee mugs, T-shirts, tote bags and other levels of Golden Tickets.

Sandra Law, store manager of La Grange location, said they’re offering cool rewards so anyone who donates feels like a part of the bookstore community.

She said the new bookstore will proceed as planned. The $50,000 goal is “just a fraction” of the cost of opening the new shop, and Anderson’s plans to fund the rest through its own resources, along with whatever help comes in through the campaign.

The business is reaching out to La Grange residents, as well as to other independent book stores and authors.

Chuck Palahniuk, author of “Fight Club,” event tweeted his support for Anderson’s.

Law said Anderson’s was attracted to the area after they found out the Border’s bookstore that was in La Grange had one of the top performing children’s departments in the U.S.

“That is a lot of our market,” Law said. “We do try to focus on children’s books and creating relationships with schools and librarians. La Grange also has a really vibrant downtown community, and we enjoy having our bookstores in downtown areas.”