Music Box Books had its soft launch in Strathmore on Canada Day (July 1).
According to owner Amanda Redmond, the launch saw an overwhelming amount of support from the community.
"We opened at 11 a.m. and had a lineup until about 3 p.m. People were very excited, so it was a very high-energy day. Very chaotic, in a good way," said Redmond. "I don't know if I expected that high of a turnout, because there was so much cool stuff happening in town."
Redmond moved to Strathmore in 2018 as her husband opened up Max SPL Music in the downtown core, which now shares the same location as the bookstore.
"It's nice to have somewhere where you can order what you want and find something new, but more than anything, I wanted to create a community. That's why we have couches, we'll be serving coffee. I want people to come in and talk about books."
There is a section of the bookstore dedicated to indie authors from around Alberta, including Strathmore's own Moira Darrell.
"Most of these authors aren't published through the bigger companies. Some of these stories are phenomenal. They're just as good as the major authors; they just don't have the same brand recognition, and that holds them back," added Redmond. "If I can help people discover them, that's amazing."
Music Box Books has a heavy emphasis on local, Canadian-made products, with many of their bookmarks, coffee, and merchandise coming from smaller businesses across the country.
In the coming months, Redmond is hoping to host book signings and live music events at the store.
The store will have its official grand opening on Aug. 2, just after the Strathmore Stampede Parade.