Macdonald Book Shop is an independent bookstore at 152 E. Elkhorn Ave. in Estes Park, and by its own account it has been one since 1928. The building is older still. The shop’s history page says the National Forest Service built the log cabin in 1907 as a headquarters, and J. Edward Macdonald bought it in 1908 as a family home. He also opened a hardware and general store called Macdonald and Sons.
Books started in a corner of that store. In 1928 they moved into the front parlor of the family home, where the shop still is. Paula Steige, described on the site as the third-generation woman in the Macdonald family to run the shop, owned and operated it for more than 50 years. Kevin and Staci Galloway Reed bought the shop on Sept. 10, 2020.
What they do
The shop describes its mission as connecting readers of all ages with books, authors and community events. Customers who cannot get up the canyon can order through the shop’s Bookshop.org page, and audiobook listeners can support the store through Libro.fm.
The history page also recounts the Lawn Lake Flood of 1982, which badly damaged the shop. It was repaired with the help of 80 volunteers, with a new front window and flooring.
Good to know
- 152 E. Elkhorn Ave., Estes Park, CO 80517. Phone: 970-586-3450.
- Hours as posted Oct. 3: Sunday through Wednesday, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Thursday through Saturday, 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.
- One date to note: the shop will close at 4 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 12, to get ready for a children’s Books and Trolley event run with EVICS. Families who want to take part must register with EVICS.
- Related spotlights: Estes Park Mountain Shop and Old Firehouse Books in Fort Collins.
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