The Tattered Cover remains a safe space for literature lovers and community members alike. photo by Kira McBarron
Initially owned and founded by Stephen Cogil Casari, the Tattered Cover has been a Denver landmark for decades.
One of the most successful independent book chains in the country, the Tattered Cover, has been around since the 70’s. Now, the beloved store is on its way out, bought out by the multi-million dollar company Barnes & Noble.
The chain has prevented bankruptcy for the past several years, but, in October of 2023, Tattered Cover filed a Chapter 11 bankruptcy, which, according to the United States Courts, “generally provides for reorganization, usually involving a corporation or partnership. It usually proposes a plan of reorganization to keep its business alive and pay creditors over time.” This filing led to the closure of three locations and the firing of nearly 30 workers. In March of this year, the U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Colorado allowed the Tattered Cover to reschedule the bankruptcy hearings so the store could continue talking with potential buyers, which led to an over 1.8 million dollar bid from Barnes & Noble.
In 1971, Stephen Casari moved back home and created the Tattered Cover in a mere 950-square foot vacancy on Second Avenue in Cherry Creek, remaining there from 1995 to 2006. The Denver wonder has since survived for the past 50 years, and will have seen five different owners so far; Casari (who died in 2014 due to cancer complications), Joyce Meskies (who bought from Casari in 1974), co-owners Len Vlahos and Kristen Gilligan (who owned it from 2017 to 2020), business partners David Back and Kwame Spearman with Bended Page LLC, and finally Barnes & Noble. Is this a death or a new life? According to longtime inventory coordinator Elise Goitia, a death. “This isn’t the same Tattered Cover it once was.”
Many avid readers would agree that there is something charming and intimate about local bookstores. Retail manager of the Colfax location, Brendan Clark, said, “[we] have a lot of different backgrounds and interests, and [employees] really try to make the store reflective of [our own] identities.” For those employed at the Colfax location, their job is a passion for all of them. “It’s not easy, but [we] really try to focus on making the space welcoming and positive.” Outreach and togetherness is a staple of the local store. Though the financial situation of the company put a pause on charitable work, outreach has been a part of the Tattered Cover since the location was first opened. The store participated in holding school tours, donating gift cards to non-profit organizations, and offering their space for local groups. “Any opportunity to build community around literacy is great.”
The small chain was bought by Bended Page LLC in 2020, and has been expanding ever since. Opening new locations across the Denver Metro area, and even beginning to leave the home region with a Highlands Ranch location that has since closed.
The owners of the Bended Page LLC were both Denver natives who grew up spending time and working in the store. David Back, one of the co-owners, stated that a growing chain means “expanding community events programming, improving our website and fulfillment so that customers can get their holiday gifts delivered in a timely fashion, serving beer and wine at select locations, and more.” For Clark, what is featured alongside the books does not matter, “it’s not just a business, it’s a community space.”
With being bought out, the staff members communicated their priority to upgrade the used book program. Clark mentioned the vastly increased inventory thanks to their new parent company while also noting that the used book program is a huge part of what the Tattered Cover is, and “if [Barnes & Noble] cares about keeping [the Tattered Cover’s] identity, it needs to come back.”
Clark’s overall hope for the chain onward is to have a “robust event program” with the ability to buy and sell used books. Tattered Cover employees hope for their store to be profitable enough to fulfill their mission of community, and “really thrive with that unique identity that comes from book sellers.” With this hopeful mission, the Tattered Cover’s reign will continue, all thanks to the new parent company.
