Sassafras on Sutton in downtown Black Mountain, North Carolina, is a bookstore, gift shop, and coffee bar with more than 5,000 new books in every genre, a vast selection of gifts, an adorable children’s area, and a full espresso bar with pastries. The shop opened in 2018 on the basement level of their building on Sutton Ave., and when a children’s store closed upstairs, Sassafras decided to expand in January 2020. Of course, COVID-19 derailed that expansion, but Sassafras was finally able to open the upstairs children’s section in May of 2020.

This past year has been especially challenging for western North Carolina after the devastating Hurricane Helene hit in 2024. After the storm, Sassafras hosted two pop-up shops while they were closed that included discount costumes for local children right before Halloween and free clothes, essentials, and toys given to those most in need. 

Every year, Sassafras works with multiple local nonprofits, giving donations and promoting annual events. Black Mountain Home for Children, which cares for roughly 170 children from various backgrounds and provides housing, education, and life skills to prepare them for their futures, is one of these partners. Sassafras donates toys and books from the wish lists of many of the children housed in their facility each year. They also work with Bounty & Soul, a local organization helping people and families struggling with food insecurity, and Swannanoa Valley Christian Ministry, who raises money to aid in heating the homes of families in the winter.

General Manager Kathleen Madden said their top priority for the year is to help maintain the spirit of the shop as a gathering place while the community continues to rebuild. They want to be a beacon of hope and endurance throughout the inevitable changes that are coming to the area.

Madden said her favorite benefit of SIBA is our annual conference, New Voices New Rooms. She said, “Pre-COVID, I was able to meet some of my literary heroes that I have been reading for years. The fangirl in me could not be contained.” Kathleen will be at New Voices New Rooms again in August!

You can follow Sassafras on Sutton at @sassafrasonsutton to keep up with their journey and visit their website at www.sassafraspost.com.