Edinburgh Bookshop opens in ex-Oddbins site after crowdfunding £32k

The Edinburgh Bookshop will open in its new premises in a former off-license next week after raising £32,000 in a crowdfunder. 

Marie Moser, owner of the independent store, launched the campaign last month which featured rewards from authors such as Ian Rankin and Alexander McCall Smith. 

Moser told The Bookseller: "Over 400 customers generously donated £32,000 to the project via Crowdfunder and direct donations to the shop. These wonderful people are all individually thanked on a giant window of thanks on the side of the shop.

"The new shop will open at 2pm on Friday 23rd August—the ribbon being cut by authors Maggie O’Farrell and Catherine Rayner."

The new premises—which Moser called "a long-neglected Oddbins site" in Bruntsfield—will allow a greater range of titles, gain a separate children’s fiction room, have places to sit and read, and be able to hold most book events and book clubs in the heart of the shop. 

"As well as a greater selection of books on offer, the new shop features specially commissioned illustrations from Kate Leiper and Chloe Savage, a children’s room with an enchanted wood theme, a secret bookcase door and plenty of comfy seats to sit on."

The bookshop first opened in 2007 and was taken over by Moser 12 years ago.