Mexica Greco/The Olaf Messenger
Northfield can seem small at times. However, when one actually goes out and looks around the beautiful town that surrounds St. Olaf College, they can find some amazing finds. From antique stores to coffee shops that are sure to make your trip into town worthwhile, Northfield has so much to offer. One of the shining stars in the downtown area, though, is Content Bookstore.
From the moment one walks into the store, the feeling of home is lingering in the air. An arrangement of knick-knacks can be found in the bookstore, from games meant for all ages to books that create lasting memories or that can spark powerful conversations.
Content Bookstore was opened by Jessica Petereson White on Dec. 15, 2014. White had a mission. She saw that the previous bookstore, Monkey See Monkey Read, was closing and knew that if it wasn’t bought and kept as a bookstore it would be a tragedy for Northfield. When deciding whether to buy the store, White turned to the words of author Neil Gaiman, “A town isn’t a town without a bookstore. It may call itself a town, but unless it’s got a bookstore, it knows it’s not foolin’ a soul.” These words have continued to stay with the Content Bookstore team.
The staff’s love for books shines with everything they do. From their recommendations to customer service, the staff understands how important reading is for so many people as they are avid readers themselves. To convey their love for books and demonstrate how important they are to the community, the bookstore hosts many literary events such as book signings and Operation Joy, an event where books are donated to families in need during the holiday season.
Content Bookstore provides great opportunities for the local community to engage with literature and keeps reading a prevalent pastime in Northfield.
Juliet Stouffer
Juliet Stouffer is a sophomore. She has been writing since the age of five, creating many short stories and picture books, but it wasn’t until 5th grade when she finally wrote her first full chapter book. In her spare time, she is part of the Writers’ Guild, the Film Production Society, and Concert Board. On the side, Juliet hosts radio show, “Starchild Radio”, alongside her roommate.