English language bookshop Coven reaches crowdfunder goal

Coven, an English language bookshop and café in Paris, has fulfilled its crowdfunding goal of around £21,000 to open a store dedicated to "intersectional feminism, engaged literature and ethical hospitality".

Launched in December by friends and business partners Louise Binns and Lucie Camara, the campaign has seen donations pour in from more than 484 people, with much support from the publishing trade. The project reached its Kickstarter target of £21198 goal at around 5.50 p.m. on Wednesday (8th January) and the following day the Coven team tweeted: "We did it. We reached 25 000 euros—thanks to all of you. But the campaign isn't over yet. Our crowdfunding target was set at the bare minimum and donations are still open for another 24 hours. See you at the finish line."

Binns and Camara told The Bookseller: "We are overwhelmed with gratitude for everyone who helped Coven to meet its Kickstarter goal with donations, social media shares, press articles and moral support - it was a real team effort. Now we are more excited than ever to bring the Coven Bookshop & Café to life, and open our doors in 2020."

Last week it was revealed the pair still needed to raise £7,000, after securing two-thirds of its financial target.

The aims of the store are outlined on the Kickstarter page: "Coven is an English language Bookshop & Café, dedicated to intersectional feminism, engaged literature and ethical hospitality. We infuse our values into choosing the people we work with, the coffee and food we serve, and the events we organise. We are based in Paris (France) but our community is global. We chose the name Coven based on its history of sheltering and nurturing radical thinkers in the fight against oppression. The traditional meaning of a coven describes both a gathering of witches and the place where they convene."

The crowdfunder should help them secure a property in the north-east of the French capital, after they missed out on a property last year. The friends cited Gay’s the Word and Pages of Cheshire Street in London as inspirations for their store, as well as Lighthouse Books in Edinburgh and Glasgow’s Category ii Books.

Photo credit Elodie Paul.