by Candice Huber, SIBA Membership and Social Media Coordinator

Hello SIBA friends!

In just the past few years, Northwest Arkansas has seen at least four new indie bookstores open their doors - Pearl’s Books in Fayetteville, Más Libritos in Springdale, Two Friends Books in Bentonville, and Underbrush Books in Rogers. Underbrush Books began as a book club in March 2020 to help folks create comfort and connections during the height of COVID-19. Since then, they dreamed of opening a community-oriented gathering space and were finally able to do so in the Fall of 2023.

Co-owner Courtney Ulrich Smith said the best part about being a bookseller is curating books that help everyone feel seen, supported, and valid. And of course, helping folks find books they love and that spark their love in reading again, or for the first time.

In May 2024, just a few months after opening their new location, Rogers was hit by an EF-2 tornado, which caused immense damage to the downtown area and widespread power outages and displacement. In the aftermath, Underbrush Books temporarily turned the store into a food pantry and relief station, providing close to 1000 meals for free. They also partner with Canopy NWA (Northwest Arkansas) to provide books to children in their refugee-settlement program as part of a summer reading initiative.

Underbrush Books is passionate about LGBTQIA+ rights and overall access to books, and Smith said the best part about SIBA is the regional aspect. “Bookselling in smaller/more rural areas in the South is a uniquely different experience than most folks have in other areas.”

You can follow Underbrush Books at @underbrushbooks and visit their website at https://underbrushbooks.com.