Rebuilding a Local Landmark
Northtown Books is preparing to welcome customers back to its storefront on Friday, Sept. 18. This reopening follows a major fire that destroyed the bookstore’s original site in early January. Humboldt County’s oldest independently run bookstore will occupy its new space at 737 G Street, located on the south side of the Arcata Plaza.
Owner Dante DiGenova announced the reopening date after months of reconstruction efforts. The new location, which previously housed the Hatchet House and Pacific Outfitters, underwent significant interior renovations to accommodate the store. This facility now serves as a shared space, housing both Northtown Books and the game store Dandar’s Boardgames and Books. Dandar’s resumed operations at this site earlier in June.
The Logistical Effort of Relocation
The transition from the fire-damaged building to the new G Street location required substantial labor from store staff. Following a three-month search for the right property, the team began the process of stocking shelves and organizing inventory. By late August, the store had finished placing the initial stock on shelves. This process faced a brief surge in labor when a large shipment from Random House arrived, adding four full pallets of books to the workload.
DiGenova noted that unpacking these items required six days of continuous work. Despite the intensity of the move, the staff maintained their focus on preparing the interior layout to mirror the atmosphere of their former location. The store is now finalizing aesthetic details before the official opening. A small sign from Visual Concepts will soon hang on the building exterior, with a permanent redwood sign expected to follow.
Community Impact and Future Operations
The fire in January affected not only Northtown Books but also several other businesses and residential apartments on the same block. The loss left a significant gap in the local commercial scene, making the return of the bookstore a symbolic milestone for the area. DiGenova stated that the reopening on Sept. 18 will focus on casual social interaction rather than formal events or readings. The store intends to resume its standard daily operations immediately following the opening weekend.
Plans for the storefront include a changing window display, preserving a practice that was a staple of the previous location. While the permanent signage is still in development, the primary objective remains ensuring that the full inventory is accessible to customers. Residents and long-time patrons have supported the shop throughout the months of uncertainty. As the doors open, the bookstore effectively signals the end of a difficult rebuilding chapter for the Arcata business district.