E. Shaver Bookseller: whimsical, welcoming and woman-owned
Written by Ally Abruscato. Photo courtesy of Southern Living
Are you looking for a great book to read over Spring Break? Interested in supporting a woman-owned business? Want to join a book club? E. Shaver Bookseller is the perfect spot for you. In 1975, Ed and Ester Shaver were on their honeymoon when their car broke down in Savannah. Upon seeing an empty spot on Madison Square, they decided it would be the perfect spot to open a book store. As a result, E. Shaver Bookseller was born.
In my opinion, each bookstore has its own unique qualities. General Manager Annie Childress says that for E. Shaver, it’s “The staff. The staff is really dedicated to what we do here, which is pour into the community.” At E. Shaver, everyone is free to express their ideas, and Savannah’s diversity makes it the perfect place for a variety of perspectives to be shared. According to Childress, at this bookstore, “We work really hard to represent everyone from all backgrounds and political stances.” This is great for readers because it means that “Everyone can find a book on the shelf.” Books are meant to open our minds and allow us to discover different viewpoints and ideas. At E. Shaver, this is especially true because the staff “makes a point to treat people with human decency” which can be far too rare these days.
If you are interested in joining a book club but not sure where to go, E. Shaver is the place. The bookstore has a variety of book clubs that are free and open to the public. All they ask is that you please read the book before you come! However, the most popular club is Tequila Mockingbird, a subscription-based club for those who are 21 and over. Those members read classics, but other clubs read poetry, romance, sci-fi and fantasy. Once again, it’s clear that E. Shaver has something for everybody! For those who want to join, you can check out their website and see which ones you can attend or email the store. And if you buy the club’s book from the store, you get a discount!
E. Shaver has a ton to offer to book lovers. It’s important to remember that it is a woman-owned business (and a perfect place to support during Women’s History Month!) They also do a lot of events with different authors that are often free to attend. Make sure to check out the events calendar on their website for upcoming appearances. Even if an author isn’t there, you can always stop by to see one of the four cats that live there. The staff is also perfect for giving recommendations if you don’t know where to start. And if they don’t have a book in the store, there’s a high chance they can get it for you. Stop by E. Shaver Bookseller for some great books, friendly faces and an incredible experience.
