Just over a year after opening, Little City Books is ready to expand its retail space. Since opening in Spring 2015 on the corner of 1st and Bloomfield, owners Kate Jacobs and Donna Garban have seen significant revenue growth in their 1,200 square foot space.
Half of their sales over the last 12+ months have been from children’s books. The landlord who owns their current location also has an 800 square foot storefront around the corner. When the landlord asked Jacobs and Garban if they would like to take over that location, they agreed. The plan is to open what they have tentatively named “Little City Kids” by Labor Day of this year to cater to the many young families in Hoboken.
The business duo opened their initial store with help from a $22,000 Indiegogo campaign and an initial investment of their own. Little City Books has also seen its inventory grow over the last year without the need for Jacobs and Garban to put in more of their own money. Little City Books has been self-sustaining, but it will take a bit of an investment from the business partners this time to merge the two stores. Once such chore is knocking down a wall to connect the two establishments.
Little City Kids will have its own entrance on 1st Street, but also be connected to the original store. This new space will continue its wildly popular story time as well as host a series of children’s authors. The newest venue has a few small rooms where the owners plan to feature specialty items and toys.
As for Little City Books, their inventory will take on additions to their most popular categories, such as fiction and cooking, to fill in where their children’s books were once displayed.
Do yourself a favor a check out this community-enriching store sooner than later!
