The oldest independent bookstore in Des Moines expands its walls and deepens its roots in a region where access to books — and the stories themselves — is increasingly contested.

This article includes an optional audio read-aloud for easier accessibility.

---

Beaverdale Books sponsored this article.

This fall, as discussions about book bans and access to education intensify across Iowa and the central Midwest, the crisp, papery aroma of freshly printed pages fills the air as readers wander through the aisles of Beaverdale Books. As the oldest independent bookstore in Des Moines, it has been a cherished part of the Iowa community, sharing its legacy in the hearts and minds of its visitors. Now, the store is preparing for its next chapter. In the coming year, Beaverdale Books will expand into the neighboring building, formerly home to the Ibson Law Firm.

This marks a significant milestone of growth at a time when access to books faces increasing challenges throughout the region. With schools in states like Kansas and Missouri reporting some of the highest numbers of banned titles in the country, the expansion highlights how community spaces focused on reading are continually evolving alongside the people they serve. For co-owners Alice Meyer and Hunter Gillum, this move is not just about square footage; it’s about fostering the community’s connection to stories at a time when access to them is contested in the Midwest.

Growth from the Community

Beaverdale Books opened in 2006 with the mission of providing an intimate space for readers. Nearly two decades later, that same mission is driving its expansion. 

When Jodi Picoult, author of “By Any Other Name,” visited the store last year, the event drew more than a thousand people, testing Beaverdale Books’ capacity, which Meyer found both exciting and overwhelming. 

“We were running out of room,” Meyer says. “We had to order 1,700 books. And [the question is] where do you put them?”

As of November 2025, the shop can accommodate approximately 30 chairs for author readings or book signings, but with the remodel, Gillum says the number could double. With the new layout, the store can host more authors for larger audiences.

Audiences are navigating the changing landscape for literacy in Iowa, with more than 3,600 books having been removed from schools and libraries under the state’s 2023 education law. Beaverdale Books’ expansion opens the door for more public events, conversations, and access points for readers — not as a direct solution, but as a growing community space at a time when book access is facing mounting restrictions.

“Children’s is one of our best-selling categories,” Meyer says. “Right now, it’s just a little back corner of the store, so expanding lets us carry more of what families are actually looking for.”

As book access becomes more complicated across Iowa, Beaverdale Books is taking the opportunity to fill the gaps. 

“It’ll be easier to have more space to just be at Beaverdale Books,” Gillum says. “Right now, it can feel cramped — this expansion makes it more inviting. People will be able to come in, sit, read, and not feel like they’re in the way.”

More Room for More Stories

Inside Beaverdale Books, the expansion will nearly double the store’s size, creating new display areas, wider aisles, and dedicated sections for various genres of books that have seen surging demand — especially for children’s books. 

“We’ll have more room, more display areas, and more inventory,” Meyer says. “Children’s books, puzzles, games, and things like that.”

Jan Kaiser, the store’s events and marketing coordinator, says she sees the expansion as a statement of purpose — a meaningful way to serve both readers and writers. 

“I think it’s going to be well received by our customers,” Kaiser says. “We have a loyal customer base, but we also really enjoy when we have author events and people come in for the first time, they’re just amazed at the collection that we have and how well curated it is.” 

A Bookstore that Reads its People

The expansion of Beaverdale Books goes beyond simply adding more space. The goal is to reinforce the store’s role as a community hub, a space for conversation and connection. Across the Midwest, where literacy rates are higher, bookstores like this one have always been vital gathering places for independent thinkers, storytellers, and neighbors who believe in the power of sharing ideas.

Their slogan  — “We Read You” — is not just a catchy phrase. It embodies the culture of listening, learning, and engaging with one another. With author events, local book clubs, and a diverse selection of books, Beaverdale Books is committed to nurturing a regional legacy of curiosity and open dialogue.

More than 800 local authors are featured on the store’s “Iowa Author Wall,” which has turned into a popular destination for book enthusiasts throughout the state. The store also hosts monthly book clubs, an annual author fair, and maintains regular partnerships with nonprofit organizations.

Their slogan  — “We Read You” — is not just a catchy phrase. It embodies the culture of listening, learning, and engaging with one another. With author events, local book clubs, and a diverse selection of books, Beaverdale Books is committed to nurturing a regional legacy of curiosity and open dialogue.

More than 800 local authors are featured on the store’s “Iowa Author Wall,” which has turned into a popular destination for book enthusiasts throughout the state. The store also hosts monthly book clubs, an annual author fair, and maintains regular partnerships with nonprofit organizations. 

“It’s one thing to have books here in the store,” Kaiser says. “But it’s another thing to be out in the community.” She adds that working with local organizations and authors helps keep Beaverdale Books vibrant and the community engaged.

Beaverdale Books’ customers often share posts celebrating their favorite finds, write about what the store means to them, or express how the staff makes them feel at home. On Yelp, customers describe the store as “truly a hidden gem of Des Moines” and “a treasure, tucked into a cute neighborhood.” 

What this shows is more than loyalty to a local store. In the central Midwest, where access to books and open reading is increasingly challenged, having a welcoming and friendly independent bookstore becomes an act of community preservation. The Midwest cherishes conversation, self-sufficiency, and a vibrant public life; places like this store keep that tradition alive by giving people a space to think, choose, and connect.

Kaiser says the team takes all these aspects into account to ensure the store meets its community’s needs. In the end, she says, “We just want to keep on having them love coming to Beaverdale Books.”

Edited 12/3/2025