A red fern represents rebirth and renewal. It represents tenacity and resilience in the face of challenges. And it’s also a symbol of the interconnectedness of all living things, a reminder that we’re never truly alone.
In downtown Salina, behind a beautifully restored facade, Red Fern Booksellers is earning its namesake.
The Backstory
Harley Hamilton’s path to Salina was a winding one, with stops along the way in France and the UK, Savannah, Georgia and Kansas City. His path to bookstore proprietor was just as winding, having started his career as a pharmacist.
But after five years of dividing their week between Kansas City, where Harley worked, and Salina, where his husband Guy grew up… they ultimately chose Salina as their home.
Harley’s decision to start a bookstore was based on several factors, including his own love of books and learning, Salina’s desperate need for a bookstore, and the tremendously supportive industry he found while researching the book business. He was amazed by how willing other independent bookstore owners were to share their knowledge and their
experience, what worked for them and what didn’t.
When these helpful booksellers shared their advice, Harley happily and wisely took it all in, except for one thing…
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The Reno
Harley sheepishly admitted he’d been warned about spending too heavily on the build out of the shop space. But preserving the historical property of the Teague Nelson Building, listed on the Kansas Register of Historic Places and located at 106 South Santa Fe Avenue in the heart of Downtown Salina, while also creating a useful and beautiful home for a
thoughtfully curated selection of books, both classical and contemporary, turned out to be quite the challenge.
With unexpectedly high interest rates and overwhelmed post-Covid supply chains that slowed everything down, the build out costs were much higher than anticipated.
However, the dream was to create a space that looked like it had always been there. Harley was super clear on this vision, and held firm to the belief that it would all be worth it in the end. He and Guy bet their savings on the idea, and along with the folks at Equity Bank, maintained faith in that vision throughout the long renovation that stretched an entire year, until the doors finally opened in May of 2023.
The Operation
With the doors opened, Harley and his staff set out to create a welcoming business that truly adds value to its customers and the community.
From the fun, quirky chalkboard messages on the sign out front, to the colorful displays in the front windows, you know Red Fern Booksellers is a place you just have to check out. Then you step across the cool retro tiled threshold into a space that will have any book lover salivating, as it has the feel of an old world library, but with a fresh, funky, hip vibe.
Thousands of titles, in every genre under the sun, by authors the world over as well as right here in Salina, line shelves that run the length of the space on both sides, with artful displays on tables throughout.
Book lovers like me will instantly have that rush of delight – the promise of vicarious adventure, the noble pursuit of knowledge, the wonder and awe of feeling that anything’s possible.
As you browse, you’ll discover that Red Fern Booksellers offers:
- All genres, from history to mystery, from romance to cookbooks, from true crime to science and nature Classic literature to contemporary non-fiction
- Titles from all over the world to titles by regional authors, many from right here in Salina
- Loads of charming educational and entertaining children’s titles
- Lots of handcrafted items and gifts – wrapping paper, cards, puzzles and more
To foster learning and community, Harley also introduced:
- Author book signings and chats (from first-time authors to celebrities)
- Poetry readings
- A book club
- Story times and fun, educational activities for children
- Small, intimate performances from music to storytelling to comedy
- Thought-provoking, discussion-generating events such as chats with political candidates
- And so much more
With a glorious variety of books and lots of regularly scheduled social and educational opportunities, Red Fern Booksellers truly delivers on its commitment to nurturing a love of learning and encouraging thoughtful conversations.
Looking around the shop, you can’t deny that Harley has done it. His vision of a warm, welcoming, nostalgic bookshop has become a reality. It’s truly a marvel to realize that the sights, sounds, the very energy of the place was once nothing more than an idea in Harley’s head.
The idea, however, was always so much more than the physical property and the day-to-day operation of a bookstore…
The Mission
The more you speak with Harley, the more you realize that his bookstore dream is so much bigger and so much more impactful than the simple exchange of books for money and the space within which to do so.
Harley’s on a mission.
A mission of rebirth for the city of Salina, as you can see from his enthusiasm and excitement for the downtown Salina renaissance.
A mission of joy and fun and playfulness. Harley finds joy in running the store, where “everyday feels like Christmas” as he and the staff open shipments of books, particularly the children’s books. And everyday is Take-Your-Dog-to- Work Day. You’ll often find Ollie the Border Collie “supervising” from a comfortable armchair by the fireplace.
A mission of leadership and caring. Harley’s eyes light up when he talks about his staff members who, in his words, are from all walks of life, each one bringing unique perspectives and passions for different book genres.
And a mission of community, where people are respected and appreciated for their diversity. In traveling the world, Harley discovered how much we’re all alike in our desire to be our true selves, to be cared for just as we are, and to care for others in turn, just as they are.
What better venue to fulfill this mission than through a bookstore, where the shelves are literally filled with all of humanity’s
many unique voices, perspectives, experiences and ideas.
In this, Red Fern Booksellers, like its namesake, is a symbol of renewal, of resilience, of the interconnectedness of all living
things, a reminder that none of us are truly alone.
So come to Red Fern for the books, for the handcrafted gifts, for the fun vibe and to meet Ollie… and then come back again for the
commitment to lifelong learning, for the thoughtful conversations, for the friendship, and for the community of it all.
To check out Red Fern Booksellers:
Click here to see the upcoming events at Red Fern Booksellers.
Click here to shop online for books at Red Fern Booksellers.
Or better yet, stop in at 106 South Santa Fe in downtown Salina, and browse the thousands of titles lining the shelves of this
beautiful store.
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