Tattered Cover
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Bookstore |
| Founded | 1 January 1971 in Denver, Colorado, United States |
| Founder | Stephen Cogil |
| Fate | Filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in October 2023; acquired by Barnes & Noble in July 2024 |
| Headquarters | Denver , United States |
Area served | Denver metropolitan area |
Key people | Joyce Meskis (former owner), Len Vlahos (former owner), Kristen Gilligan (former owner), David Back (current owner), Kwame Spearman (current owner) |
| Products | Books |
Number of employees | 27 (reduction in 2023) (2023) |
| Parent | Barnes & Noble (since 2024) |
Tattered Cover is a well-established independent bookstore chain based in Denver, Colorado. Renowned for its outstanding customer experience and hosting high-profile author events, it operates six outlets throughout the Denver metropolitan area, offering a collection of over 500,000 titles. The flagship store located in LoDo includes an event venue with seating capacity exceeding 250, while the East Colfax branch can accommodate approximately 100 attendees.
History
The origins of Tattered Cover trace back to 1971 when Stephen Cogil launched the bookstore in Denver's Cherry Creek neighborhood. In 1974, ownership passed to Joyce Meskis, under whose guidance the business expanded significantly, moving to a larger Cherry Creek location by 1986. The company opened a second store in Denver’s historic LoDo district in 1994, followed by additional branches in Highlands Ranch (2004) and Littleton (2015). The original Cherry Creek site closed in 2006, relocating to a refurbished theater on East Colfax Avenue.
Joyce Meskis was a prominent figure in the bookselling community, serving as president of the American Booksellers Association and receiving several honors for her defense of free speech. She sold Tattered Cover in 2015 to Len Vlahos and Kristen Gilligan, who subsequently transferred ownership in 2020 to a group of investors led by David Back and Kwame Spearman.
Confronted with financial difficulties, Tattered Cover filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in October 2023, announcing plans to shut down three stores and reduce staff by 27 employees. In July 2024, the bankruptcy court approved its purchase by Barnes & Noble, representing a major shift in the company’s ownership and strategic direction.
Colorado Supreme Court case
In 2000, Tattered Cover won a landmark legal battle when it contested a search warrant on First Amendment grounds concerning customer purchase records suspected of being linked to illegal methamphetamine production. The Colorado Supreme Court ruled in favor of the bookstore, drawing nationwide attention. Authorities aimed to connect a suspect to instructional materials on drug synthesis; however, the item purchased was actually a book about Japanese calligraphy.