Local business

Small Business Week: Silver Unicorn Bookstore, Acton, MA

Written by Shannon Toliver

Happy National Small Business Week! This is a time to celebrate local businesses and their contributions to our neighborhoods and economy. In honor of this week, Nextdoor will be highlighting Neighborhood Favorites each day to kick off our new local business series. Check out our blog between May 6th and May 10th to see what locals are loving around the country.

In an era where books are often read on a screen and shopping is done online, brick and mortar bookstores around the country are struggling to keep their doors open. But when Paul S. found out his local bookstore was closing back in 2017, he was determined to keep the dream alive by opening one of his own.

Silver Unicorn Bookstore is an independent bookstore for all ages, located in the heart of the only walkable neighborhood in West Acton, MA. Paul shared with us that his humble bookshop serves the Acton community and beyond by stressing the 3 Cs: convenience, curation, and community. And are they doing just that! In fact, the Silver Unicorn Bookstore has established itself as a community hub after hosting over 150 events within its first 14 months!

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“Inside these walls, we believe you’ll find your unicorn – the book that speaks specifically to you.”

The bookstore has already been voted a Neighborhood Favorite in 12 Nextdoor neighborhoods. When asked what it means to be such a staple in his community,  Paul shared, “It is extremely gratifying to be an important part of our community! It is our goal to be so, so to be recognized as a Neighborhood Favorite after such a short period of time is extremely rewarding.”

In addition to serving as a community meeting place, the Silver Unicorn Bookstore jumps on any opportunity to be an active and engaged part of the community. Past endeavors have included arranging book fairs with local schools, hosting toy drives and giving nights for nonprofit organizations, speaking with Cub Scouts and Girl Scouts about running a small business, and holding fundraisers for local food pantries. Paul also schedules weekly storytimes to give children and adults alike the opportunity to engage with published authors.

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Paul, owner of Silver Unicorn Bookstore, teaching Cub Scouts how to sell a book.

While some may think the era of bookstores has come to an end, Silver Unicorn Bookstore is defying odds and solidifying itself as a crucial part of its community’s fabric. This small business caters to the universal desire for a community gathering spot combined with the incomparable feeling of actually holding a book.

Courtesy of ActonTV’s Talk of the Town

What are your favorite local businesses? Show them some love this week by recommending them to your neighbors on Nextdoor, or leaving a comment below.

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