The Wandering Jellyfish Bookshop closing in December

The Wandering Jellyfish Bookshop, primarily a children's bookstore, will be closing its doors on Dec. 9, two-and-a-half years after it opened in the former "Niwot Tribune" building on Second Avenue in Niwot.

The bookshop, affectionately dubbed TWJ, has been a warm, welcoming place for community members and authors alike. It showcased local authors and diverse perspectives, and catered to young readers and those young at heart. The owners cited a failure to meet financial goals as leading to the closing.

TWJ has been a community fixture and deeply involved in the community since it opened. During the Marshall Fire, TWJ ran a book drive for survivors. When Scholastic Books couldn't host book fairs in Lyons, the TWJ team stepped up to the challenge. The staff became very involved in the Niwot community, volunteering at Rock & Rails and handing out "I love reading" flags during the Fourth of July parade. Even in light of their closing, they have partnered with Niwot Elementary for a last-hurrah "Buy a Book" program.

On Feb. 25, 2023, TWJ hosted "Drag Queen Storytime" which drew national attention. The event was attended by many families who listened to Miss Shirley read stories to the children. It drew crowds of both protesters and supporters. The store manager, Alison Kane, said at the time, "Drag Storytime is so important to us, because we believe it's important to show kids what diversity looks like and to give them that experience. And just in general, we love storytime because it's fun to entertain kids and to encourage them to read books."

Heather Preusser, a local author and a regular TWJ customer along with her son, hosted a storytime this past May and said that TWJ has made literacy so much more accessible and fun. "It's just such a magical place."

"I want to see more independent bookstores everywhere and see them thriving," said Preusser. "You don't get this kind of community when you go to a big chain. You don't get the personal recommendations, you don't form the connections, it's just not the same."

Even newcomers to the shop recognized its relevance in the community. Karen Ward came to Niwot for the first time last weekend to babysit her niece, who frequently visits TWJ and said her niece was very sad about the closing.

"The shop is adorable, it's a shame, because this is such a cute thing to have in a town like this," Ward said. "This is my first time in town and I've fallen in love with it."

Ward and her niece came to the shop last Saturday for TWJ's last-ever story time, which featured local author Lynn Becker and local illustrator Scott Brundage.

"They've been with me on my whole journey, I did my first event here a year and a half ago and I was terrified. But they were so kind and so sweet that it was fun," Becker said. "I'm honored to be the last story time. The shop has meant so much to so many people-readers and writers-it's impossible to even say how many people they've impacted. I'm so sorry to see the shop close."

It's hard to say who is the most disappointed. Kane said that since the announcement, there's been an outpouring of support from local authors and community members alike. Many reached out with concern for the staff, asking what was next for them, and many simply came to express their sadness about the shop closing.

Sadie Warren, a junior at Niwot High School who recently started working at TWJ echoed Kane's sentiment.

"I see kids coming in and the looks on their faces when we tell them we're closing, the devastation," Warren said. "The Wandering Jellyfish has become such a big part of the community and I'm so upset it's closing."

TWJ is planning to stay open through Enchanted Evening, with its final day Saturday, Dec. 9. Until then, the hours will remain the same, all merchandise is 40% off and all December events and preorder campaigns organized by TWJ have been taken over by Second Star to the Right Books in Denver. Kane will also move to Second Star.

"So many have come in person, called and left voicemails and sent wonderful emails describing the incredible impact we have had on their family, and getting their kids excited about reading. I have also heard that many kids and teens viewed the bookshop as a safe space where they could come on bad days and know they would be welcomed by smiling faces," said Kane. "TWJ was my dream job and I will always cherish my time here. Niwot is an amazing town and I feel lucky to have been a part of and positively impacted the community here."