Main Street Books, a North Dakota independent located only a block and a half outside the flooding evacuation zone in the state, is keeping its doors open, hoping to serve the community’s few remaining residents. But all programs and events scheduled at the general-interest bookstore for the rest of this month have been cancelled. Due to a heavier-than-usual snowmelt, plus rain, the waters of the Souris River are spilling over temporary dykes. The river is expected to crest Sunday, deluging parts of the city of 41,000.
“We’re fortunate, we’re on a hill, our elevation is higher,” Main Street’s owner, Val Stadick, told PW Thursday. Main Street Books is located in a 2,800-square-foot retail space in downtown Minot. The store, founded by Stadick in 2006, and housed in its current location since 2008, celebrated its fifth anniversary in March.
Stadick is on her own in keeping the store’s doors open, as her three employees were evacuated earlier this week. But, Stadick says, it’s been “pretty quiet,” as “people aren’t thinking of shopping for books,” and there’ve also been continuing rumors that downtown Minot is completely shut down. Stadick says, though, that the drop in sales “hasn’t been that huge,” with sales 20%-25% lower than normal.
Stadick’s isn’t just committed to keeping her store open as a service to her community: she’s also contacted the Red Cross, offering to come into local shelters and lead story times for children. There are an estimated 300-500 people living in temporary shelters set up by the Red Cross in Minot and that number could grow.
“My first thought is with the families,” Stadick said, “How can we make it easier for them?”
