The only bookstore in Elk Grove is at risk of shutting down — but has a plan to stay afloat

Emily Autenrieth believes that “shopping local is a form of activism” — and as the indie bookstore that she founded and owns struggles to stay afloat, she’s hoping her small business is a cause the Elk Grove community will get behind.

A Seat at the Table Books — the only bookstore in Elk Grove — is located just off Highway 99 and was designed to support the community in ways that go beyond being a place to pick up a copy of the latest bestseller or BookTok phenomenon. The location also features a cafe and espresso bar, a conference room, a play area for kids and a quiet room for people with sensory needs or nursing mothers.

The store hosts weekly events ranging from book clubs, to a Lego Club led by Autenrieth’s 8-year-old daughter, to a “Conquering Parenthood” support group, as well as acting as a central meeting location for various community organizations.

Autenrieth said she and the rest of her staff are now hoping the community that has formed around the store will decide the location is “worth saving.”

Facing business struggles exacerbated by launching during the COVID-19 pandemic, they’re turning to a “Save Our Store Sponsorship” program to boost their bottom line.

How does the program work?

The idea is this: Community members who are already frequent users of the space can help to make sure that space continues to be available to them, while gaining some exclusive perks. There’s a monthly sponsorship option for $50 per month and annual sponsorship levels that range from $200 to $1,000.

Sponsorship privileges at the various levels include perks like personally curated advance reader copies, an annual sponsor party, free conference room rentals, reserved seating at author events and free after-hours event rentals.

Autenrieth said that the store already has around 30 sponsors, but that the program is officially being launched at a bookstore mixer open to both current and potential sponsors this Wednesday at 7 p.m.

The event will feature live acoustic music from local musician Scott Semple; wine from Michael David Winery in Lodi; an informational session about sponsorship benefits and the state of the store’s finances; and a community discussion and Q&A.

Also in attendance at the sponsor mixer, according to a news release for the event, will be a filmmaker working on a documentary project about the struggles of independent bookstores in the modern age.

Autenrieth said she is hoping the sponsorship program can tide Seat at the Table over until the documentary is released, and that once it is, the spotlight on the store will increase visibility and regular customer base.

How can independent bookstores compete with corporations?

Running into your elementary school teacher at Target or an estranged high school friend at Starbucks may be a classically awkward experience, but Autenrieth wants that opportunity to interact with customers outside of the store, to let people know that the store’s staff members are “part of the community in ways besides selling them something.”

Autenrieth said that this is, in large part, why she believes local bookstores are important: as compared to retail book chains, she feels that Seat at the Table “earns their space” in the community.

“We live here and our kids go to school here,” Autenrieth said. “We are a member of the community, as well as trying to lead change in the community. We know this community in a way that a corporation does not.”

Amazon is often cited as a contributing factor to the changing world of book sales, holding a market share of at least 40% of physical books sold in the United States and more than 80% of e-books sold, according to an analysis released by data and analytics group WordsRated in early 2023. Online shopping, free Amazon Prime shipping, cheaper prices, e-books and more all make purchasing books from the online retailer a tempting choice.

But a 2022 survey by the American Booksellers Association seemed to show a surprising trend for independent bookstores: nearly 70% of respondents said their sales were higher in 2021 than in 2019, even after a pandemic that shut down many brick-and-mortar storefronts for months on end.

So what could be convincing readers to put in the extra effort and money to shop local?

Autenrieth knows her answer: “All small businesses add something to their community that can’t be replicated by anyone else.”

A goal to give everyone in Elk Grove a seat at the table

Autenrieth brought her family, including two kids, to Elk Grove six years ago, “seeking family connection and community building.”

“It has over a hundred parks, and it’s very family-oriented. We saw the way the school district was regarded and thought, this is exactly where we want to be,” Autenrieth said. “And then we drove across Highway 99 on our first day and saw Confederate flags, and we weren’t sure what we’d gotten ourselves into.”

Soon after, Autenrieth had the idea to open a bookstore. In January 2020, Autenrieth launched a book-selling pop-up, and she opened Seat at the Table’s physical storefront in November 2021 with the goal of creating a “third space” for Elk Grove residents, or a physical location other than work or home where the primary activity is simply to spend time talking with other people.

“Books helped me open my mind to my own identity and the experiences of others,” Autenrieth said. “And because of the way that coffee shops bring communities together, this (combination) seemed like a natural way to achieve that mission.”

She said she felt at the time like the community was “ready for something like this.”

“We have the kind of small town values that lead people to want to support each other,” Autenrieth said. “And we have the access to larger city resources that can make a difference.”

Amanda Scott, the store manager, joined the business about a year ago after connecting with Autenrieth at one of her early pop-ups. Scott said that the store has helped her to develop community not just for herself, but also for her kids.

As someone who is autistic and has ADHD herself, and who is the parent of autistic children, she said that the store has given her a space to “celebrate” those identities. She spearheaded an autism acceptance event at the store in April that included story time in which employees read picture books featuring autistic characters. Scott has also hosted an art fair, where she invited autistic-owned businesses, vendors and artists to sell their work.

Scott is specifically passionate about the autism community, but said she thinks A Seat at the Table Books has allowed other groups of people to find that same kind of community in different ways.

Autenrieth agreed.

“It’s an opportunity to try and humanize each other,” she said. “We wanted to create that space where we will welcome you for who you are, and we want to give you a seat at the table.”