Shelf Love DSM prides itself as Des Moines’ only romance bookstore.
DES MOINES, Iowa — A new bookstore opened in Des Moines on Saturday, with enough attendees showing out to have a line wrap completely around the building.
Shelf Love DSM, which has claimed the title of being Des Moines’ first romance-focused bookstore, seeks to offer “a fun, inclusive, and joyful space.”
“We are all about uplifting romance stories, creating community, and being a space for local readers,” Shelf Love DSM says on its website. “We are proud to house a wide variety of romance books with a focus in indie written stories.”
Shelf Love DSM’s opening included a ribbon cutting, raffles and authors signing copies of their books.
The bookstore says it offers a “large variety of diverse, indie, and traditionally published books representing all types of love stories.”
“When you go to a store, like a big box store, they only have a selection of maybe one shelf worth of books when it comes to romance,” said Shelf Love DSM owner, Sarah Gardner-Bergan. “But we’re able to break it down, not just as romance, but as, like, different types of romance.”