A new chapter has started at Durham Market as a second‑hand bookshop has taken over a long‑running stall following the owner’s retirement.
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 “matter of weeks” after the opportunity arose.
She said: “I’ve always loved reading ever since I was a kid, and over the past year I’d been volunteering at another bookshop in Durham.
“I 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.
“I realised how much I enjoyed it and that I was quite good at it.”
When the opportunity at the Market Hall stall became available, Miles said it was a “spontaneous decision” to take on the new venture as it has been a dream of hers since she was little.
The 27-year-old said: “We 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.
“She’s always dreamed of having a bookshop as well, so she said, ‘just do it’.
“I sent an email to the market manager thinking it wasn’t any big commitment, and then about two weeks later we were open.
“It was a really quick turnaround getting the stock in, setting everything up and advertising, but it just kind of happened and I’m so grateful it’s all worked out.”
Despite the short notice, Miles said the stall has already received a warm welcome from customers and fellow traders.
She said: “Everyone in the market has been so lovely and welcoming.
“We’ve 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.
“Other stallholders have been popping by, giving advice and just being really supportive, which has been amazing.”
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: “I want people to be able to walk into the shop and just pick anything off the shelf and know it’s going to be a really good book.
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“It’s about curating a selection where, whatever the genre, you’re getting a really strong example of it and something that someone can fall in love with.
“It still feels a bit surreal, but we’re really loving it so far and I’m excited to make it a little welcoming space where people can get lost in a good book.”
You can find the stall at Durham Indoor Market, Durham, DH1 3NJ.
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