Kindred Thoughts Bookstore

  Posted on February 5, 2024  by admin  No comments

Launched in October 2020 during the pandemic, Kindred Thoughts Bookstore started as an online book club via Zoom reading titles such as The Truths We Hold (VP elect at the time, Kamala Harris), The Warmth of Other Suns (Isabel Wilkerson), Harlem Shuffle (Colson Whitehead) to name a few. Continuing to leverage online platforms, we promoted our quarterly discussions on Eventbrite and have had people join us from as far away as South Korea! 
Following the excitement of our online discussions, Karin and Derek began to sell books online; and when it was safe to assemble, we began selling books at local community events where customers would ask if there was a bookstore in Bridgeport, and we would smile and respond with “not yet…!” In November 2021, we opened our store in the Bridgeport Innovation Center and after quickly outgrowing that space, we made the move downtown. 
As of October 2022, we have been proudly located in the historic Arcade Mall. We are Bridgeport’s only bookstore with an emphasis on African American literature, while supporting the needs and interests across our entire diverse community. We are open Tuesdays-Fridays from 11am-6pm and Saturdays from 10am-6pm. We still host book discussions and hope you’ll join us one day! 🙂 
Derek is a retired fire fighter who served the Waterbury community for almost 30 years. Karin has worked for a Stamford based IT research firm for the past 25 years. We are cousins-in-law turned business partners who both have a shared passion for books and a desire to help promote literacy within our community. 

Regards, 

Karin Smith

Co-Owner