The Bookies have announced Nicole Sullivan had purchased the famous book store and will take over as their new owners. Sullivan is the co-founder of BookGive which is a non-profit organization which distributes books for free throughout the metro area of Denver. She also runs BookBar which is a wine bar and bookstore situated in northern Denver.
The news comes just 5 months following the demise of Sue Lubeck, who opened The Bookies 50 years ago. Following the death of Lubeck passed away her family began searching for new owners who could take the reigns of The Bookies while still maintaining Lubeck’s vision to inspire youngsters to read.
“We believe Nicole has the capability, energy and excitement to bring the business into the future,” the family stated in an announcement.
Nicole said: “This will not be a second BookBar and, sorry, we will not be adding a bar. The Bookies will remain The Bookies. Our intention is to continue, the best we can, to carry on with Sue’s vision and honor her legacy.”
You can read our first account of Sue Lubeck’s many years in influence, inspiration and influence in the following article.
For most of the time that Rob Lubeck lived the mother of his son, Sue was the owner and operator of The Bookies bookstore, a popular community landmark located in the city’s Glendale neighborhood.
According to Beverly Cleary once said, “If you don’t see the book you want on the shelves, write it.” That’s exactly the way Sue Lubeck did with The Bookies. In the beginning of the 70s, Sue was concerned that Denver’s only children’s bookstore wasn’t child-friendly enough So she decided to create her own.
Sue established The Bookies in 1971 as Rob was the third son of the trio was getting ready for kindergarten. In the span of fifty years, Sue’s independently family-owned bookstore inspired thousands of children to read and became an oasis for parents as well as teachers who wanted to nurture the next generation of readers.
Sue passed away on the 8th of July 2021, aged age 87. She died one month before the store was due to commemorate their 50th birthday. Sue was surrounded by her family, Rob said.
“My brother said she has probably already started The Bookies in heaven,” Rob said to Rocky Mountain PBS with a huge smile. “And we could just totally see her doing that.”
“Sue was a wife, mother, grandmother, sister, friend and author of every good thing The Bookies ever was,” the site of the store reads. “She leaves the world more enriched because she was there. A world where many youngsters learned to appreciate reading. A world that is filled with more joy and laughter than it could have without her.”
Rob 52 has never lived without the Bookies. Sue began the business inside the basement home where her family lived. The business eventually expanded to the rest of the home.
“Which was interesting, to say the least,” Rob remembers. “I came back from school and the children would be running around my home, playing in my bedroom. There would be shoppers in our living room or the basement. This was fun at certain times, but there was another aspect of it. My mom was never able to say”no to anyone.”
Rob describes instances when the Lubecks were having dinner together as a family when the doorbell would go off: A shopper who was procrastinating would knock on the door and waiting to select an last-minute birthday present for a friend. Sue was unable to let them in.
The never-say-no attitude certainly has contributed to The Bookies’ longevity and community spirit. After 10 years of running the business from the Lubeck residence, Sue opened a brick-and-mortar store at 6th and Ogden but soon outgrew the area and moved to the present site on E. Mississippi Ave.
“I’m proud of her for what she was able to create here,” Rob states, sitting in the corner of The Bookies, surrounded by children’s books. “In the beginning of the 1970s the idea of a woman being able to begin a business on her own was quite rare and unusual with her having the ambition and determination to make it happen. I’m incredibly happy with the things she was able to make.”
The ability to keep a business going for more than 50 years is a remarkable feat particularly in a city which is constantly changing and growing like Denver It’s evident how difficult Sue was able to make it happen. But what’s less clear is whether it was ever truly working for Sue. Rob stated that the store was a part of his mother’s soul and heart and that she was even reluctant to travel because it meant being far from the activity.
“This was one of her babies,” Rob explained, “and she really wanted to leave the earth still having it here and under her control.”
And even though Sue was able to accomplish this goal –Rob told her that the family members asked her to sell The Bookies when she was in her 80s and would not even consider it–the past year and a half been turbulent to put it in a mild way.
The COVID-19 epidemic was a time when Sue was less active in the store , limiting possible exposures. Rob stated that she continued to run the business from her home. Then The Bookies, it should be noted, flourished during the epidemic as many independent bookshops were struggling to survive. Rob credits that success to the dedicated staff of the store and community supportas the result that were the result of the base Sue set fifty years back.
The Bookies celebrated its 50th anniversary on August 14 for the entire day in the shop. Since Sue’s death the celebration was given more significance However, Macy knew that the mood wouldn’t be sad. Macy acknowledges the fact that both she and coworkers were initially struggling to process the emotions of grief and shock following Sue’s passing, but later began to look ahead to the celebration.
“I think that it’s going to make a lot of people happy,” Macy declared. “And it is one of Sue’s main themes. She was determined to make people satisfied. She would go through any book, or find any toy, if it could bring someone joy. I believe the celebration will make her happy.”
