Popular bookstore damaged in fire plans to reopen in new location

Akimbo Bookshop on East Avenue had become a staple in Rochester since its opening in the spring of 2022.

On Jan. 4, however, a fire broke out in a neighboring restaurant, causing severe damage to Akimbo.

"I just got my sign up," said owner Rachel Crawford. "I told a friend on New Year's Eve that this would be a good year."

But that all changed with a call from the fire marshal around 6 a.m. on Jan. 4 telling her “to get down here.” Smoke from the fire damaged the shop’s books, furniture and equipment.

Standing in a puddle, wearing pajamas and slippers, Crawford recalls thinking, "I'm always going to fail. I'm never going to be proud of myself."

Despite the setback, Crawford received overwhelming support from the community, which led to a successful crowdfunding campaign to recover from the fire.

Crawford, a South Jersey native, moved to Rochester 13 years ago. Educational opportunities and a more inclusive and welcoming environment for her son prompted the relocation. Since her arrival, she's become deeply connected to the community.

She had always been passionate about books and had even skipped school as a teenager to visit Wooden Shoe Books, a volunteer-run, nonprofit bookstore in Philadelphia that sold revolutionary literature. The bookstore put the radical writings of Audre Lorde in her hands, she said, and a seed was planted.

“That’s what I want to do when I grow up," she recalled.

After losing her job as a literary arts coordinator in 2020, Crawford opened Akimbo as an online bookshop. It quickly evolved into a physical store and became known as a "safe, quiet space in downtown Rochester."

"I saw the amount of time and effort she put into building a foundation and community for people that love books," said Richard Colon, a local photographer and curator.

The bookstore regularly held events that supported local artists and served as a vendor for several local businesses, like Aporia Coffee, Happy Earth Tea, and Black Cat Baking Co.

Customer Grace Carlic moved to Rochester in 2022 and found a welcoming community at Akimbo, she said.

"Rachel made me feel like I was more than just a customer buying a book," Carlic said. "It felt like I was truly being welcomed into the community."

Crawford's insurance wouldn't cover the damage caused by the fire - but the successful crowdfunding campaign raised more than $30,000 to help her.

Now, Crawford plans to reopen the bookstore in a new location in the Neighborhood of the Arts (NOTA).

"People here really care about one another," Crawford said. "I found the community I was looking for."

Contact Robert Bell at: rlbell@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter: @byrobbell & Instagram: @byrobbell. This coverage is only possible with support from our readers.

This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: Akimbo Bookshop in Rochester NY plans to reopen in new location