All She Wrote Books, the feminist, queer, inclusive bookstore that has called Somerville’s Assembly Row shopping center home since 2020, is moving.
Owner Christina Pascucci Ciampa said the business was priced out — rent has increased more than 130% in two years and the store has paid $8,000 for repairs in the past few months. Now, All She Wrote Books is downsizing to a space on Washington Street in East Somerville.
“My mission is to always find a way to keep this store in the world because it's super critical to have spaces like these that unfortunately just become far and few in between,” Pascucci Ciampa said.
The business will be fully moved out of its first home on Oct. 15 — and aims to open its new East Somerville location by the end of the month.
“Spaces like ours, especially for the queer community, need to exist," Pascucci Ciampa said. "Having the space and continuing our mission and the things that we do in the community is extremely important.”
All She Wrote Books is fundraising to support the reopening of the store — as of Oct. 5, the store had raised 40% of a $60,000 goal. The money will go towards paying staff during the transition, replenishing inventory, a new front sign, moving costs, and to continue and expand community initiatives, like the free library they host at Connexion United Methodist Church.
Pascucci Ciampa said she’s been “blown away” by the support the store has received and how the community has demonstrated their need for All She Wrote Books.
“Whether it's a book we recommended, whether it's just a space where they were able to connect with an author that just spoke to them in a way that nothing else spoke to them or if it was just them being in this space and feeling loved and safe ... all of those things combined makes All She Wrote Books what it is and why it's so important to exist,” she said.
The new store has a smaller footprint, so fundraised money will also go towards reimagining the space with new shelving.
Accessibility is important to Pascucci Ciampa, especially with the store downsizing. The store will follow ADA guidelines and all fixtures besides the bookcases on the walls will have wheels so they can be moved for better access.
Though All She Wrote won’t have the same room for larger events it used to host, Pascucci Ciampa is looking forward to having cozier, intimate gatherings at the new store.
Nothing about the bookstores curation will change — it will continue to stock intersectional, inclusive, feminist and LGBTQ+ titles that amplify underrepresented voices.
“This is the next chapter in our story,” Pascucci Ciampa said. “There's going to be chapters of joy and happiness, and then there's going to be chapters of sorrow and struggles and other things. I'm excited for this new chapter and I think it's going to be a good one.”
