New bookstore opens in Grand Island

GRAND ISLAND, Neb. (KSNB) - Book enthusiasts have a new option to supply their hobby in Grand Island.

Rooted Books and Gifts just opened within the last week in downtown on North Locust Street. Danielle Helzer, won ‘Big Idea Grand Island’ in 2023, with a pitch to open this book store, and she said it’s been almost 10 years since the city had an independent bookstore. She told Local4 News she’s proud to bring that back to Grand Island.

“I think our society is so busy and we’re just like, go, go, go all the time, and I think there’s something really calming and relaxing and peaceful about walking into a bookstore, it just seems like when you walk into a place like this, time kind of slows down a little bit.” Helzer said.

Helzer is excited for the people who have already visited the store in the handful of days it’s been open.

“We’ve only been open for a week, but I’ve had people in from Las Vegas, that were here visiting from the fair,” Helzer said. “I’ve had people in from Wyoming. I’ve had people in from Omaha. They just kind of were at the coffee shop and stumbled upon this place. They were like, oh, this is so great that, you know, the community has an independent bookstore.”

Helzer has already set up one monthly tradition in the shop.

“The first Friday of the month, so we’re open from one to nine, so we’ll be open a little bit later,” Helzer said. “We’re excited to try that out. We’ll have puzzles and games and, you know, coloring for little people and big people too.”

Click here to subscribe to our KSNB Local4 daily digest and breaking news alerts delivered straight to your email inbox.