A new indie bookstore is now open in downtown Fayetteville, right off the historic square.

WORDS / SOPHIA ORDAZ
PHOTOS COURTESY OF THE JORDANS

In the words of Neil Gaiman, a town isn’t a town without a bookstore. When Fayetteville’s Nightbird Books closed in February 2020, it left behind a 14-year legacy and a bookstore-shaped void in the community. For Daniel and Leah Jordan, Nightbird Books had been a favorite date night spot and a bookish oasis where they could purchase the latest contemporary titles. Spurred on by the pandemic’s uncertainty, the high school sweethearts and self-proclaimed book hoarders decided to turn their pipe dream of opening a bookstore into a reality with Pearl’s Books.

Located on Center Street a block away from Square Gardens, Pearl’s Books will carry general interest books ranging from new fiction releases and poetry to cookbooks and Arkansas-interest titles. The bookstore opened in early October and is named in honor of Pearl, the Jordans’ crazy-eyed Cavalier King Charles Spaniel who passed away last October.

“We didn’t discuss the name too much. It was always going to be Pearl’s,” Leah says. “[Pearl] was our first baby … For us, it was about this idea of companionship and unconditional love you can get from your pets. The same kind of connection can happen with books. They’re this entity that can walk alongside you in life and be there for you when things are tough and you need to escape or when you want to learn and grow.”

Pearl’s Books will serve coffee, beer and wine, as well as pastries from Arsaga’s and snacks from Bentonville’s Sweet Freedom Cheese. Though it’s no small feat to open a bookstore during a pandemic while parenting a 4-year-old and 1-year-old, the Jordans are galvanized by Fayetteville’s warm reception and the possibility of engaging with NWA’s literary community through author events and book clubs.

“I’m really proud of us doing this with [our kids] because I want to show them that they can reach for their dreams and do what they want with their lives,” says Daniel. “It’s been tough. It’s hard to go to the bookstore and move things around when you have a 1-year-old with you, but we’ve made it work and it has been fun. I’m excited for them to grow up with the store. [An indie bookstore] is something Fayetteville has been needing and wanting.”

Visit Pearl’s books between 10 a.m.–6 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays, 10 a.m.–8 p.m. Fridays and 9 a.m.–8 p.m. Saturdays.

IG // @PEARLSBOOKS