A Room of One's Own (bookstore)
| Company type | Independent bookstore |
|---|---|
| Industry | Retail (books) |
| Founded | 1975 |
| Founder | Sandi Torkildson, Moe Doe, Susan Ketchum, Gail Straw, Sally Stevens |
| Headquarters | Madison , United States |
| Products | Books (feminism, gender, LGBTQ+ topics, fiction, children's literature, local history) |
A Room of One's Own is an independent bookstore situated at 2717 Atwood Avenue in Madison, Wisconsin. Established in 1975 as a feminist bookstore, its name derives from Virginia Woolf's 1929 essay of the same title. The shop primarily features works by and about women, non-binary individuals, and members of the LGBT community.
Description
Focusing on feminism and gender-related topics, A Room of One's Own curates a collection dedicated to literature concerning women, non-binary, and queer populations. After moving to a larger venue in 2011, the bookstore broadened its selection to encompass more fiction, children's literature, and materials related to local history. Currently, it offers approximately 200,000 titles and generates annual revenues exceeding one million dollars.
The bookstore regularly organizes author events and readings while providing complimentary space for various community gatherings. Collaborations with groups such as the Wisconsin Book Festival further strengthen its role within the local cultural scene.
History
Founded in 1975 by five University of Wisconsin alumni—Sandi Torkildson, Moe Doe, Susan Ketchum, Gail Straw, and Sally Stevens—the store began with a $5,000 investment at its original address, 317 West Johnson Street. It relocated to 307 West Johnson Street in 1997 and then moved again in 2011 to a 6,000-square-foot location at 315 West Gorham Street, previously occupied by Avol's Books.
In June 2016, ownership by Sandi Torkildson and Nancy Geary was put up for sale. By mid-2018, the bookstore was purchased by three partners: employees Gretchen Treu and Wes Lukes alongside fantasy author Patrick Rothfuss.
In July 2019, the proprietors launched the #BookstoresAgainstBorders initiative, contributing a portion of sales to the Refugee and Immigrant Center for Education and Legal Services. This campaign involved over ninety bookstores and publishers nationwide. Additionally, the store expressed solidarity with demonstrations following the murder of George Floyd in May 2020.
During a fifteen-month closure caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, A Room of One's Own sustained its presence through virtual events and enhanced online sales. It resumed operations in October 2021 at its current address on Atwood Avenue.