Today we’d like to introduce you to Sho Roberts.
Hi Sho, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Opening a bookshop was always a dream of mine. When I moved across country to Oregon in 2013, I thought what if I started small to see if this is something I can do. While working multiple part time jobs, I started a mobile kids bookshop in 2014. On weekends in the summer I would attend every street fair I could. I would sell some mostly used books, some new books, and locally made kid items. From doing that I discovered that kids books are something that people want and need. I saved my money until I could open up a brick and mortar in 2018. We were a kids specialty store in downtown Gresham in a 1,000 sq ft space. In 2023 we were lucky enough to expand to a larger space, 3,000 sq ft. With that expansion we also expanded to be a general bookshop, where we are able to support more of our community’s needs.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Owning and running your own business is filled with many mini struggles as you have to wear many different hats. With each little or major struggle I have had to push outside my comfort zone and come up with a solution that works for my business. I have had to learn new skills, reach out for assistance, and speak up when necessary. When your stomach starts doing flips, just know that you can push through it and come out the other end even stronger.
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Maggie Mae’s Bookshop?
Maggie Mae’s Bookshop is located in Historic Downtown Gresham. We aim to be your destination for books in Gresham, OR. We have a wonderfully curated selection of books from board books to grown up books, gift items for all ages, and are able to order books in for you! When you walk into Maggie Mae’s you will be greeted with a warm smile and instantly feel at home. We love our community and aim to be a third space for them. We have over 5 free book clubs and offer many different type of community events. We host about 14 events each month and love to get to know our community members. We are always expanding and updating our selections, so you never know what you will find when you walk into Maggie Mae’s. Come into the shop, let your shoulders drop a bit, and have a little adventure exploring all that we have to offer.
What’s next?
Our plans for the future are to continue to slowly grow and expand our selections and community events. We are guided by our community in what we offer and bring into this shop, so we are excited to discover what they need.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.maggiemaesbooks.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/maggiemaesbooks
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/maggiemaesbooks
