A new independent bookstore, Flagship Books, has opened in the Strawberry Hill area of Kansas City, Kansas.
The new store, at 600 Ohio Ave., has moved from North Kansas City, Missouri, where it originally was opened in March 2021 by brothers Joel Melgren and Ty Melgren.
The location in Strawberry Hill is a larger storefront, and the new location opened during the final weekend of January.
There will be a wider selection of new and used books, plus some room to have book club meetings and other community events, according to the owners.
The store will tailor its selection to the needs and interests of the Strawberry Hill neighborhood and the KCK community by featuring titles by Kansas City-based writers and illustrators, as well as offering books in languages other than English. The store will include fiction, nonfiction and poetry in Spanish.
The books will include literary classics to popular contemporary fiction, such as “The Song of Achilles” and “Harlem Shuffle.” There will be best-sellers by Robin Wall Kimmerer, Jemar Tisby and Anthony Bourdain, as well as children’s books and a selection of books on food and mixed drinks.
The bookstore also will order books for customers.
Hours of the new store are noon to 6 p.m. Wednesdays, noon to 6 p.m. Thursdays, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Fridays, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturdays, noon to 5 p.m. Sundays, and closed Mondays and Tuesdays.
The bookstore has a Facebook page at facebook.com/flagshipbooks, and is on Instagram at Instagram.com/flagship books. Customers may contact the bookstore at [email protected].
A bookstore is badly needed in Kansas City, Kansas! It is particularly wonderful to see it open as a part of the new development around Strawberry Hill and adjacent to Downtown! I urge folks to support this independent retail business! I frequent many of the varied eateries in the Downtown/Strawberry Hill area and have found some real treats!