By Kevin Haas
Rock River Current
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ROCKFORD — There’s a phrase David Pederson occasionally hears from people who wander into his downtown bookstore that he takes as a personal challenge.
It’s “I don’t read.”
“My favorite thing is people who come in and announce they don’t read, and then they usually find something,” Pederson said. “I had this guy from Estonia say, ‘nobody reads anymore.’ Then he left like this,” Pederson said miming armfuls of books, “just handfuls of stuff.”
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Maze Books opens at 5 p.m. tonight in its new location at 406 E. State St. in downtown Rockford. The independent, locally owned bookstore had operated for a little more than a year at 117 S. Third St. before deciding to take over the two-level former GEM: Gather, Engage, Make space.
The new location has a more open feel and more space for bookshelves, as well as events and gatherings either on its upper level or back patio. The Pedersons said it was like the business growing up.
“Our bookstore grew up and moved out of its parents’ basement,” said Kim Pederson, who helps her husband run the shop along with their sole employee, Haley Phillips.
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The GEM space became available after a shuffle of existing businesses. GEM owner Sarah Reed-McNamara moved her business, SRM Prints, to the former Salvaged by Sonya space at 330 E. State St., while Salvaged by Sonya opened at 510 E. State St. after 510 Threads closed.
Maze will expand its hours (listed below) in the new site, and it will carry on its same philosophy of curating a selection of books for all interests. You’ll find new and used titles in both fiction and non-fiction, ranging from classics to contemporary to local authors and weird or strange works.
That’s why David Pederson says even people who claim they don’t read will find something to spark their interest.
“It’s a challenge, and this is the truth, the book will find you,” he said. “There’s one here for every person.”
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Many of the used books on the shelves go for $3-$5, but there are some pricier first editions.
A second-floor loft space is envisioned as a place for creatives and book lovers to gather.
“The idea is to have a kind of a meetup space for writers, for book clubs, for people who want to play board games,” David Pederson said. “Just space where you can hang out above an amazing little shop.”
The team at Maze and friends of the Pedersons scrambled for the past two months to prepare the new space to open in time for Fall ArtScene. Kim designed the hand-built wooden shelves that line the walls, and David painted the ceiling with a stencil of stars to give it the look of a night-time sky. The front of the downtown stop is recognized by its signature red curtains.
As part of ArtScene, Maze is hosting Don Heneghan, a beat poetry movement and literature scholar and researcher. He’ll give an informal talk about the life and times of beat poets, viewed through contemporary photographs, at 6 p.m. both Friday and Saturday during ArtScene.
“I wanted Rockford to meet him and to meet the new bookstore, too,” David Pederson said.
Poetry nights, discussions with authors and other literature-centric events have been a part of Maze Books since its start in June 2022. Pederson said it was able to grow into the new space thanks to the support of local customers and friends who have frequented the shop.
“One hundred percent we wouldn’t be here without Rockford. When we opened, everybody was like, ‘books, huh?’ Ever heard of Amazon?” he said. “But they supported us.”
About | Maze Books
Where: 406 E. State St., Rockford
Hours: 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday; noon to 4 p.m. Sunday
On the web: facebook.com/MazeBookstore
Contact: mazebookshop@gmail.com; 779-970-5912
This article is by Kevin Haas. Email him at khaas@rockrivercurrent.com or follow him on X at @KevinMHaas or Instagram @thekevinhaas and Threads @thekevinhaas