Tattered Cover
Encyclopedia
The Tattered Cover is a bookstore in Denver, Colorado
, and one of the largest independent bookstores in the United States
.
district of Denver, as a small 950 sq ft (88.3 m²). bookshop. It was purchased in 1974 by Joyce Meskis. Between 1973 and 1983, it expanded seven different times, and in 1986 it moved into and consolidated at a new location in Cherry Creek, which remained open for over 20 years.
A second branch, purchased in 1990, was renovated and opened for business in 1994 in Denver's historic LoDo
(lower downtown) district. In 1995, the Fourth Story Restaurant & Bar opened at the Cherry Creek location. In November, 2004, Tattered Cover opened a third location in Highlands Ranch, Colorado
.
The Cherry Creek location closed in June 2006, and moved to the newly renovated, long-defunct Lowenstein Theater on Denver's Colfax Avenue
. The Fourth Story restaurant was shut down at that time.
The Tattered Cover is open 7 days a week at all branches, hosts prominent book signings, and is renowned for its customer service. Its LoDo store houses an events space which can seat over 250, while its Highlands Ranch store can seat up to 400 and its Colfax store can seat around 100. Together, the stores maintain an inventory of over half a million books.
Like many independent bookstores, the Tattered Cover is a member of the American Booksellers Association
, and Meskis served as president of that organization in the early 1990s. Meskis is a former board member of the American Booksellers Foundation for Free Expression and is also the recipient of The William J. Brennan, Jr. Award from the The Thomas Jefferson Center for the Protection of Free Expression, the PEN/Newman First Amendment Award, the Brandeis Award from Privacy International
, and the American Library Association's John Phillip Immroth Memorial Award for Intellectual Freedom.
grounds, a search warrant for records related to purchases made by a customer suspected of illegally manufacturing methamphetamine
. The case made national news, and was eventually decided in the store's favor by the Colorado Supreme Court. Officers were attempting to establish a connection between the suspect and books they found on how to manufacture the drug. The purchase in question was later revealed to be of a book on Japanese calligraphy.
Denver, Colorado
The City and County of Denver is the capital and the most populous city of the U.S. state of Colorado. Denver is a consolidated city-county, located in the South Platte River Valley on the western edge of the High Plains just east of the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains...
, and one of the largest independent bookstores in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
.
History
It opened in 1971 in the Cherry CreekCherry Creek Neighborhood
Cherry Creek is a neighborhood in Denver, Colorado, USA. It has many newer residences mix in with some of Denver's older homes.-Geography:The neighborhood is generally located in the south-central area of the City of Denver and is a mixture of dense urban development and tree lined residential...
district of Denver, as a small 950 sq ft (88.3 m²). bookshop. It was purchased in 1974 by Joyce Meskis. Between 1973 and 1983, it expanded seven different times, and in 1986 it moved into and consolidated at a new location in Cherry Creek, which remained open for over 20 years.
A second branch, purchased in 1990, was renovated and opened for business in 1994 in Denver's historic LoDo
LoDo
LoDo, Denver is the lower downtown area of Denver, Colorado, the oldest and original settlement of the city of Denver. It is a mixed-use historic district, known for its nightlife, and serves as an example of success in urban reinvestment and revitalization...
(lower downtown) district. In 1995, the Fourth Story Restaurant & Bar opened at the Cherry Creek location. In November, 2004, Tattered Cover opened a third location in Highlands Ranch, Colorado
Highlands Ranch, Colorado
Highlands Ranch is a census-designated place in Douglas County, Colorado, United States. The population was 96,713 at the 2010 census; it is one of the most populous unincorporated communities in the United States...
.
The Cherry Creek location closed in June 2006, and moved to the newly renovated, long-defunct Lowenstein Theater on Denver's Colfax Avenue
Colfax Avenue
Colfax Avenue is the main street that runs east–west through the Denver-Aurora metropolitan area in Colorado. As U.S. Highway 40, it was one of two principal highways serving Denver before the Interstate Highway System was constructed. In the local street system, it lies 15 blocks north of the zero...
. The Fourth Story restaurant was shut down at that time.
The Tattered Cover is open 7 days a week at all branches, hosts prominent book signings, and is renowned for its customer service. Its LoDo store houses an events space which can seat over 250, while its Highlands Ranch store can seat up to 400 and its Colfax store can seat around 100. Together, the stores maintain an inventory of over half a million books.
Like many independent bookstores, the Tattered Cover is a member of the American Booksellers Association
American Booksellers Association
The American Booksellers Association is a non-profit industryassociation founded in 1900 that promotes independent bookstores in the United States and Canada. The ABA and its members support freedom of speech, literacy, and programs that encourage reading...
, and Meskis served as president of that organization in the early 1990s. Meskis is a former board member of the American Booksellers Foundation for Free Expression and is also the recipient of The William J. Brennan, Jr. Award from the The Thomas Jefferson Center for the Protection of Free Expression, the PEN/Newman First Amendment Award, the Brandeis Award from Privacy International
Privacy International
Privacy International is a UK-based non-profit organisation formed in 1990, "as a watchdog on surveillance and privacy invasions by governments and corporations." PI has organised campaigns and initiatives in more than fifty countries and is based in London, UK.-Formation, background and...
, and the American Library Association's John Phillip Immroth Memorial Award for Intellectual Freedom.
Colorado Supreme Court Case
In 2000 the store resisted, on First AmendmentFirst Amendment to the United States Constitution
The First Amendment to the United States Constitution is part of the Bill of Rights. The amendment prohibits the making of any law respecting an establishment of religion, impeding the free exercise of religion, abridging the freedom of speech, infringing on the freedom of the press, interfering...
grounds, a search warrant for records related to purchases made by a customer suspected of illegally manufacturing methamphetamine
Methamphetamine
Methamphetamine is a psychostimulant of the phenethylamine and amphetamine class of psychoactive drugs...
. The case made national news, and was eventually decided in the store's favor by the Colorado Supreme Court. Officers were attempting to establish a connection between the suspect and books they found on how to manufacture the drug. The purchase in question was later revealed to be of a book on Japanese calligraphy.