New bookshop Verdigris Books opens in Durham Market
Verdigris Books officially opened its doors on April 3, after taking over the previous long-running stall Book Emporium after the owner Walter, retired after running the business for more than 30 years.
The shop has since been taken over by 27-year-old Miles Stevenson, from Brancepeth, who said the new bookshop came together in a βmatter of weeksβ after the opportunity arose.
She said: βIβve always loved reading ever since I was a kid, and over the past year Iβd been volunteering at another bookshop in Durham.
βI actually ended up managing it for a month while the regular manager was on sick leave, and that gave me my first proper experience of running a shop.
βI realised how much I enjoyed it and that I was quite good at it.β
When the opportunity at the Market Hall stall became available, Miles said it was a βspontaneous decisionβ to take on the new venture as it has been a dream of hers since she was little.
The 27-year-old said: βWe saw that the previous owner was retiring and the stall was going to be vacant, and I was just talking to my mum about it.
βSheβs always dreamed of having a bookshop as well, so she said, βjust do itβ.
βI sent an email to the market manager thinking it wasnβt any big commitment, and then about two weeks later we were open.
βIt was a really quick turnaround getting the stock in, setting everything up and advertising, but it just kind of happened and Iβm so grateful itβs all worked out.β
Despite the short notice, Miles said the stall has already received a warm welcome from customers and fellow traders.
She said: βEveryone in the market has been so lovely and welcoming.
βWeβve had people coming in who saw the Facebook post and wanted to check us out, and also customers who used to visit the previous shop and wanted to see how things are going.
βOther stallholders have been popping by, giving advice and just being really supportive, which has been amazing.β
Β The new book stall offers a carefully curated range of second-hand titles, spanning fiction, non-fiction, poetry and plays.
Miles said her goal is to make high-quality literature accessible to everyone.
She said: βI want people to be able to walk into the shop and just pick anything off the shelf and know itβs going to be a really good book.
βItβs about curating a selection where, whatever the genre, youβre getting a really strong example of it and something that someone can fall in love with.
βIt still feels a bit surreal, but weβre really loving it so far and Iβm excited to make it a little welcoming space where people can get lost in a good book.β
You can find the stall at Durham Indoor Market, Durham, DH1 3NJ.