One of Minneapolis’s newest coffee and bookstores has become a partner of Elpis Enterprises’ coffee bean bag program. Inkwell Bookseller Company opened on February 22 this year, located off East Hennepin Avenue.
Inkwell has seen a lot of success in its first five months of business, operating both as a coffee shop and bookstore for those seeking a nice caffeinated drink and new literature. As Inkwell owner Elizabeth Foster is still building partnerships within the community, she appreciates Elpis stepping in early to offer a helping hand.
“One of the things we try to do as an organization is support local, small, independent businesses, as well as just supporting our community in general,” said Foster. “Obviously, then the bags fit very well into that niche of what we want to do in two ways; because it’s a local company, and also helps support our community in ways just beyond purchasing a product.”
The reusable coffee bean tote bags have been very popular merchandise that have fit right in at Inkwell. Customers have enjoyed having the bags available for purchase if they come away with a large haul of books to bring home.
“We’re a bookstore and a coffee shop, and one of the things, obviously, it’s coffee-related, so that’s a fun twist. People like coffee-themed things in coffee shops,” Foster said.
Elpis’s bags fit right in with the diverse customer base Inkwell has seen through its first five months of business. People of all ages and backgrounds have enjoyed spending time in the Nicollet Island neighborhood, and it’s helped to expand the catalog of books available in their store to almost an endless number of genres.
“It’s just a fun mix of people and creates a really good atmosphere, having them come together and having them sit down and enjoy themselves. Or use the space they need to if they need a rest from their home situation or anything else it may be.”
As Inkwell continues to grow its business, Foster is also continuously seeking out partnerships with non-profit organizations within the community. Knowing how being a part of Elpis’s bean bag program goes towards helping the interns who work within the bag social enterprise. Foster emphasized how important it is to build relationships within the community and lift up the people who are strengthening them on a daily basis, and finding more of them within the greater Twin Cities area.
“Community in general is something I think we need more of as a society, it’s something that I really want to foster in our store. So we want to be more than just a place you purchase things, we want to be a gathering place, and that’s just another way of supporting the community.”
For other businesses looking to partner with Inkwell, they are looking for more help sourcing products locally that they are still in need of. Feel free to contact them at info@inkwellbooksellersco.com to find out more about what they need as they continue to grow.
“Helping people in any way, shape, or form is always something we’re looking at when we’re sourcing our products. Which is why we put the emphasis on small and local.”
