BOOKS & BURROW

Raising diverse voices.

 Opening a business is exciting. And risky. And scary. And stressful. 

Unless you don’t give yourself time to feel any of that.

“We gave ourselves 30 days to open,” said Darcie Shultz, owner of Books & Burrow. “We didn’t really have time to be scared.”

It was November 2020. Darcie and Dave, along with their daughter Rylie, had just moved back to the Midwest after some time in Connecticut. They landed in Pittsburg. Bought a building. 

“And it all just happened,” Darcie said. “I look back now and kinda wonder how we even opened. Compared to now, we barely had anything in here. We had a few books, some candles, and tea. But people were so kind and welcoming."

"Living in Connecticut - me working in the performing arts and Dave a wildland firefighter - owning a bookstore was such a wild, unattainable idea. It was almost impossible, so we just kept living life. But then the opportunity to move back this way came along, and suddenly it became a possibility. And then there's Rylie..."

To say Rylie is an avid reader is an understatement.

“She loves to read. Loves it. No matter where we’ve lived, we’ve spent many hours in the public library, taking part in programming. Books have always been a big part of our lives.”

Inspired by her daughter’s love of reading, and seeking to start a new life in Pittsburg, a bookstore downtown seemed like the perfect idea. More than just a seller of books, however, the store has a unique mission: raise diverse voices.

“That’s at the foundation of what we do,” Darcie said. “We’re trying to create awareness and hopefully create a little bit of change in the hearts and minds of people. That’s always been our mission, and I don’t shy away from that.”

Especially important to Darcie is raising awareness of Native American writers.

Originally from Miami, Okla., she is a member of the Peoria Tribe of Indians of Oklahoma. Though she’s spent a lot of time away from home, she said reading books by Native American writers always kept her connected to her heritage.

“This is part of my identity,” she said. “It’s who I am. I am very open about that, and I want to share that.”

Shultz said she has been overwhelmed by the community’s response to both the store and their mission.

“I actually get kinda choked up talking about it,” she said. “The people we’ve met have been incredibly kind. They’re very supportive and interested, and it’s genuine. They want to learn. That’s really cool.”

Books & Burrow is located at 212 S. Broadway, right next door to Miners + Monroe, a men’s mercantile shop. Davey Froman, owner of Miners + Monroe, is Darcie’s brother. She said he deserves a lot of credit for getting her to Pittsburg and helping her open the bookstore.

“Davey was always pushing us to move to Pittsburg,” she said. “He was excited about it, telling us about the growth. He and (Davey’s wife) Kim were a huge help in finding a downtown building and getting us up and going.”

Darcie said her brother is among a long list of local business owners who are working hard to help Pittsburg grow and thrive.

“Everybody here takes such pride in their businesses,” she said. “They care about how they look, what they’re putting out there, what they’re providing the community. It goes beyond the storefront. There are really quality people and products inside those doors. That, to me, is the best part.”

Check out Books & Burrow online at https://www.booksandburrow.com/