This Indie Bookshop’s Plea Sparked a Global Wave of Heartwarming Support

It’s easy to buy books these days – far easier than ever before. You can just go online, log onto a certain global mega-corporation, and start shopping. They’ll send the books straight to your doorstep quicker than you can say Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance. And certainly quicker than you can say Colourless Tsukuru Tazaki and His Years of Pilgrimage.

At the same time, the effects of this new convenience economy were being felt in 2023 by a bookstore in Ramsgate, England. Things looked positive when they reached out to the public, and they got a pleasant surprise. But ongoing struggles have underlined why bookstores need our support more than ever before.

The Book Bodega in Ramsgate

Down at England’s southeast tip is the seaside town of Ramsgate. This port was once the departure point for many of Britain’s cross-channel ferries, although the last ferry service left the port more than a decade ago. Fishing was another of Ramsgate’s major industries, though this has declined too.

But Ramsgate still has a strong tourism industry. Many people visit the seaside town each year, especially from London, seeking to escape the hustle and bustle of the city for somewhere calmer. Some of these tourists pick up souvenirs from their trip, like books from the Book Bodega store.

Selling beloved works of literature and also offering teas and coffees to visitors, the Book Bodega was a jewel in Ramsgate’s crown from 2022 onwards. But the cruel reality of the modern industry made life difficult.

A Lifeline from the Public

In 2023, a year after opening, Book Bodega co-owner Sapphire Bates put out an urgent plea. Using the hashtag #BookTwitter, Sapphire sought support from local people and visitors to Ramsgate.

#BookTwitter we need your help! I run Book Bodega, an Indy bookshop in Ramsgate. Winter is killing us, it’s soo quiet & we need to make £800 by Tuesday to pay our bills. This is my current view = no customers 🥹. Please shop with us and help us stay open!https://t.co/zeYYTLM7Qz pic.twitter.com/wNuUqjEqML

— Sapphire Bates (@sapphirejbates) February 25, 2023

“We need your help,” Sapphire said. “I run Book Bodega [and] winter is killing us. It’s so quiet and we need to make £800 by Tuesday to pay our bills.”

She then shared a picture of the store, showing that Book Bodega currently had no customers. “Please shop with us and help us stay open,” she added.

The heartfelt post received an overwhelming response. It went viral, reaching more than 6 million users around the world. Customers pledged to come and help out, while figures like Adam Kay –  author of the acclaimed Undoctored and This is Going to Hurt – offered to come and host events at the store.

Some even offered to donate money directly. The store was saved, and Sapphire and her partner Nicholas Turner were overjoyed.

Short-lived Relief

While such an outpouring of support is definitely heartening, it wasn’t a permanent fix. As Sapphire said, the £800 they needed was to keep the store alive, not to get them out of danger forever. So when the social media interest died down, the cash flow dried up too. Eighteen months after Sapphire’s successful plea to the general public, she and Nicholas made a sad announcement. The store would be closing down, for good, on July 28th, 2024.

After closing the store, Sapphire focused her attention on The Coven Girl Gang, a group for independent business women. Meanwhile, Nicholas returned to running his jet board school and hire business in the town.

While we wish Sapphire and Nicholas all the best in their next ventures, the story of the Book Bodega is a desperately sad one. Such a charming store, offering delights of the literary and caffeinated varieties to its customers, should have had a far better chance at survival. When passion-driven businesses like this one, with the personal touch, cannot survive, there’s definitely something wrong.

Staying Hopeful and Striving to Make a Difference

The story of the Book Bodega is rather bittersweet. On one hand, the outpouring of public emotion and support following the appeal is inspiring, and shows us what is possible when we get together to assist independent bookstores.

But on the other hand, the continued struggles of the Book Bodega are really quite sad. These struggles underline how important it is to keep on supporting these stores, on an ongoing basis.

There is hope here. After all, we are the consumers. We are the book-buying public. Together, we can make a real difference. In towns, villages, and cities across the world, there are bookstores who bring light and joy to their neighborhoods. And they need us to offer some light and joy back their way.

Take a walk around your local community the next time you get the chance. You might find something amazing, and you might be able to do something amazing for a hard-working business owner.